Formula Holden was an Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

n open wheel racing category.

History

Known during its development as Formula Australia, it was initially for chassis constructed from aluminium only, running a 3.8 litre Buick V6

Buick V6 engine

The Buick V6, initially marketed as Fireball at its introduction in 1962, was a large V6 engine used by General Motors. The block is made of cast iron and all use two-valve-per-cylinder iron heads, actuated by pushrods....

 engine as it was then utilised in the new versions of the Holden Commodore

Holden Commodore

The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...

. Second-hand Formula 3000

Formula 3000

The Formula 3000 International Championship was a motor racing series created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 1985 to become the final preparatory step for drivers hoping to enter the Formula One championship...

 chassis were targeted immediately as a cheap source of cars in addition to local constructors. For the 1992 season cars constructed from carbon fibre were allowed. In 2006 an engine upgrade was made available to the 3.6 litre Alloytec V6 engine, although take-up of the alloytec was far from universal. The engines were usually mounted in ex-Formula 3000

Formula 3000

The Formula 3000 International Championship was a motor racing series created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 1985 to become the final preparatory step for drivers hoping to enter the Formula One championship...

 chassis, a large number of which were sourced from Japan

Formula Nippon

Formula Nippon is a type of formula racing and the top level of single-seater racing in Japan.Formula Nippon evolved from the Japanese Formula 2000 series begun in 1973 by way of the Japanese Formula Two and Japanese Formula 3000 championships...

 but also included cars from other sources and a few specifically designed for the class, like the Cheetah, Elfin, Spa (designed by F1 designer Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson (F1 designer)

Gary Anderson is a semi-retired racing car designer and motorsport pundit.Gary was born in Northern Ireland and attended Queen's University Belfast....

) and TAFE Shrike designs.

From its inception in 1989 until 2004 the formula was used to determine the winner of the Australian Drivers' Championship

Australian Drivers' Championship

The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula...

 for the CAMS Gold Star. From 2005 this title was moved to the Australian Formula 3

Australian Formula 3

The Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship is a motor racing championship for FIA Formula Three racing cars and is now the official Australian Drivers' Championship. Growing out of Australian Formula 2 racing into a series for the first time in 1999, it has grown into the premier Australian...

 Championship.

From 1991 to 1995 the category was officially known as Formula Brabham in honour of Jack Brabham

Jack Brabham

Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One champion in , and . He was a founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor that bore his name....

 who acted as the category patron for five seasons. In 1996 the name reverted to Formula Holden and from the 2003 season the category was officially called "Formula 4000 powered by Holden".

The formula was also used for a 1993 Pan-Pacific series, several New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 Grands Prix, and Tasman Cup (Australia versus New Zealand) summer series. It has also been proposed to be used for an Asian series based in China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

. With numbers dropping and the increasing prominence of Formula 3, the class was dropped by the CAMS

Confederation of Australian Motor Sport

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport , has been the governing body of Australian motorsport since 1953. It is affiliated with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile ....

 sanctioning body after the 2005 season. In 2006, the category was run as part of the Australian Motor Racing Series under the sanctioning of the Australian Auto Sport Alliance

Australian Auto Sport Alliance

The Australian Auto Sport Alliance is an organisation formed to promote and administer motorsport in Australia. The AASA formed due to dissatisfaction with the governing body of Australian motorsport, CAMS, and organises race meetings independent of CAMS....

 (AASA) and at times the regular Formula 4000 field was complemented by vehicles competing in the new Oz BOSS category for open wheel racing cars. In 2007 numbers had dropped to the point they could no longer form races by themselves and were amalgamated into the OzBOSS category. As part of this amalgamation, the cars themselves were re-badged again as Formula 3000V6.

The drivers in the series in the 2000s were a mix of older drivers who owned their own cars, or very young Oceanic or South Asian drivers looking to make a name for themselves on the international scene. Although technically using cars just a step below Formula One

Formula One

Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...

, the lack of competition in the series means that drivers tend to progress from Formula 4000 to a minor series in Europe (Will Power

Will Power

William Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:...

, British Formula 3

British Formula Three Championship

The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...

) or North America (Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon

Scott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins...

, Indy Lights).

Champions

Championship	Category Name	Champion	Vehicle
1989 Australian Drivers' Championship 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship was a motor racing competition open to drivers of racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Holden regulations. The championship winner was awarded the 1989 CAMS Gold Star as the Australian Drivers' Champion...	Formula Holden	Rohan Onslow	Ralt Ralt RALT was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the RALT name...  RT20
1990 Australian Drivers' Championship 1990 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1990 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Formula Holden racing cars.The winner of the championship was awarded the 1990 CAMS Gold Star.-Calendar:...	Formula Holden	Simon Kane Simon Kane Simon Kane born 9 October 1967 in Sydney Australia best known as a race driver, but now works as a sound technician in television. He started in Formula Ford in the late 1980's and proceeded to Formula Holden in 1989. In 1990 he won the Australian Drivers' Championship and CAMS Gold Star...	Ralt RT21
1991 Australian Drivers' Championship 1991 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1991 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Formula Brabham racing cars.The winner of the championship was awarded the 1991 CAMS Gold Star.-Calendar:...	Formula Brabham	Mark Skaife Mark Skaife Mark Stephen Skaife OAM is an Australian motor racing driver. Skaife is a five time winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, including its predecessor the Australian Touring Car Championship. He is also a six-time winner of Australia's most prestigious domestic motor race, the Bathurst 1000...	Spa FB003
1992 Australian Drivers' Championship 1992 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1992 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Formula Brabham racing cars. The winner of the title, which was the 36th Australian Drivers' Championship, was awarded the 1992 CAMS Gold Star...	Formula Brabham	Mark Skaife Mark Skaife Mark Stephen Skaife OAM is an Australian motor racing driver. Skaife is a five time winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, including its predecessor the Australian Touring Car Championship. He is also a six-time winner of Australia's most prestigious domestic motor race, the Bathurst 1000...	Spa FB003
1993 Australian Drivers' Championship 1993 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1993 Australian Drivers' Championship was a motor racing competition open to drivers of racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Brabham regulations...	Formula Brabham	Mark Skaife Mark Skaife Mark Stephen Skaife OAM is an Australian motor racing driver. Skaife is a five time winner of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, including its predecessor the Australian Touring Car Championship. He is also a six-time winner of Australia's most prestigious domestic motor race, the Bathurst 1000...	Lola T91/50
1994 Australian Drivers' Championship 1994 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1994 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing competition open to drivers of racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Brabham regulations. The championship winner was awarded the 1994 CAMS Gold Star as the Australian Champion Driver...	Formula Brabham	Paul Stokell Paul Stokell Paul Stokell is an Australian racing driver. Despite never making a significant impact in touring car racing, Stokell has been a race and championship winning driver in open wheel and sportscar racing consistently since the early 1990s and remains so today have won the Australian Mini Challenge in...	Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...  91D
1995 Australian Drivers' Championship 1995 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1995 Australian Drivers' Championship was open to drivers of racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Brabham regulations and was contested over a three round series.*Round 1, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Victoria, 5 March...	Formula Brabham	Paul Stokell Paul Stokell Paul Stokell is an Australian racing driver. Despite never making a significant impact in touring car racing, Stokell has been a race and championship winning driver in open wheel and sportscar racing consistently since the early 1990s and remains so today have won the Australian Mini Challenge in...	Reynard 91D
1996 Australian Drivers' Championship 1996 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1996 Australian Drivers' Championship was a motor racing competition open to drivers of racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Holden regulations. The championship winner was awarded the 1996 CAMS Gold Star as the Australian Drivers' Champion. It was the 40th running of the Australian Drivers'...	Formula Holden	Paul Stokell Paul Stokell Paul Stokell is an Australian racing driver. Despite never making a significant impact in touring car racing, Stokell has been a race and championship winning driver in open wheel and sportscar racing consistently since the early 1990s and remains so today have won the Australian Mini Challenge in...	Reynard 91D
1997 Australian Drivers' Championship 1997 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1997 Australian Drivers' Championship was a motor racing competition open to drivers of racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Holden regulations. The championship winner was awarded the 1997 CAMS Gold Star as the Australian Drivers' Champion...	Formula Holden	Jason Bright Jason Bright Jason Bright is an Australian racing driver currently competing in the V8 Supercar series.-Australia:...	Reynard 91D
1998 Australian Drivers' Championship 1998 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1998 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Formula Holden regulations...	Formula Holden	Scott Dixon Scott Dixon Scott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins...	Reynard 92D
1999 Australian Drivers' Championship 1999 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1999 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to drivers of Formula Holden racing cars. The winner of the championship, which was the 43rd Australian Drivers' Championship, was awarded the 1999 CAMS Gold Star...	Formula Holden	Simon Wills	Reynard 94D
2000 Australian Drivers' Championship 2000 Australian Drivers' Championship The 2000 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Formula Holden regulations. The title was contested over an 8 round, 16 race series with the winner awarded the 2000 CAMS Gold Star...	Formula Holden	Simon Wills	Reynard 94D
2001 Australian Drivers' Championship 2001 Australian Drivers' Championship The 2001 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Formula Holden regulations, with the winner awarded the 2001 CAMS Gold Star...	Formula Holden	Rick Kelly Rick Kelly Rick Kelly is a current V8 Supercar racing driver, currently living in Melbourne, Victoria. He is the younger brother of former Bathurst 1000 champion, Todd Kelly...	Reynard 94D
2002 Australian Drivers' Championship 2002 Australian Drivers' Championship The 2002 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Formula Holden racing cars with the 2002 CAMS Gold Star awarded to the winning driver ....	Formula Holden	Will Power Will Power William Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:...	Reynard 94D
2003 Australian Drivers' Championship 2003 Australian Drivers' Championship The 2003 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Formula Holden regulations. The title was contested over a twelve race series with the winner awarded the 2003 CAMS Gold Star....	Formula 4000	Daniel Gaunt Daniel Gaunt Daniel Gaunt, born 27 February 1985, in Auckland, is a New Zealand racing driver.-Formula Racing:After rising through the ranks of New Zealand Formula Ford, which included a third place finish in the 2002 New Zealand Grand Prix, Gaunt moved to Australia, competing in the Formula 4000 category and...	Reynard 96D
2004 Australian Drivers' Championship 2004 Australian Drivers' Championship The 2004 Australian Drivers' Championship was a national motor racing title for drivers of Formula 4000 cars. The championship winner was awarded the 2004 CAMS Gold Star...	Formula 4000	Neil McFadyen	Reynard 95D
2005 Australian Formula 4000 Championship 2005 Australian Formula 4000 Championship The 2005 Australian Formula 4000 Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Formula 4000 racing cars.This was the first title to be contested under the Australian Formula 4000 Championship name although the category had competed for the Australian Drivers' Championship...  (CAMS Confederation of Australian Motor Sport The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport , has been the governing body of Australian motorsport since 1953. It is affiliated with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile .... )	Formula 4000	Peter Hackett	Reynard 96D
2006 Australian Formula 4000 Championship (AMRS)	Formula 4000	Derek Pingel	Reynard 95D
2007 OzBoss Championship (AMRS)	OzBoss Championships, F3000V6 class	Ty Hanger	Reynard 95D

Cars used in Formula Holden

Cheetah Mk.9, Dome

Dome (constructor)

, literally "child's dream", is a Japanese-based racing car constructor, involved mainly in open wheel and sports car racing.-Background:In 1965 Minoru Hayashi built his first racing car, a rebodied Honda S600 coupe. Belonging to Tojiro Ukiya, it was called the "Karasu" , due to its shape...

 F102, Elfin FA891, Hocking 901, Hocking 911, Liston BF3, Lola T87/50, Lola T91/50, Lola T93/50, March

March Engineering

March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,...

 87B, Ralt

Ralt

RALT was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the RALT name...

 RT4, Ralt RT20, Ralt RT21, Ralt RT23, Reynard

Reynard Motorsport

Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy...

 89D, Reynard 90D, Reynard 91D, Reynard 92D, Reynard 93D, Reynard 94D, Reynard 95D, Reynard 96D, Reynard 97D, Reynard 98D, Shrike NB89H

Shrike (racing car)

Shrike is a racing car developed in Australia by the Croydon Park Institute of TAFE in 1988 and 1989. It was developed for the then new Formula Holden category which mandated an aluminium tub monocoque, powered by a Buick sourced 3.8 litre Holden V6 engine, as used in the Holden Commodore at that...

, SPA 001, SPA 002, SPA 003