The 1981 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to racing cars complying with Australian Formula 1.[1] It was the 25th Australian Drivers' Championship.[2] The title winner, Alfredo Costanzo[3] was awarded the 1981 CAMS "Gold Star".[1]
The championship was contested over a two-round series.[3]
Round | Circuit | Date | Format | Round winner | Car | |
1 | Sandown Park | 22 February | One race | Alfredo Costanzo | McLaren M26 Chevrolet | |
2 | Amaroo Park | 12 July | Two heats | Alfredo Costanzo | McLaren M26 Chevrolet |
Car competed in two classes:[1]
Championship points were awarded at each round on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six finishers in each class.[1] Additional points were awarded at each round on a 4-3-2-1 basis to the first four finishers outright, regardless of class.[1] Where rounds were contested over more than one heat, round placings were determined by allocating points to the first 14 placegetters in each heat on a 20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis and then aggregating these points.[1] Where more than one driver earned the same number of points the relevant round placing was awarded to the driver who was higher placed in the last heat.[1]
Position | Driver[4] | Car | Class | Entrant | San.[5] | Ama. | Total | |
1 | Alfredo Costanzo | McLaren M26 Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Porsche Cars Australia | 13 | 13 | 26[6] [7] | |
2 | Ray Hanger | March 77B Ford BDA[8] | Up to 1600cc | Ray Hanger | 9 | 10 | 19 | |
3 | Rob Butcher | Lola T332 Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | John Blanden | 6 | 9 | 15 | |
4 | John Bowe | Elfin MR9 Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Ansett Team Elfin | 9 | - | 9 | |
5 | Ivan Tighe | Chevron B37 Chevrolet[9] | Over 1600cc | Ivan Tighe | - | 6 | 6 | |
6 | Peter Edwards | Lola T332 Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Peter Edwards | 4 | - | 4 | |
7 | Bob Minogue | Lola T430 Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Bob Minogue | - | 3 | 3 | |
8 | Colin Trengrove | Lola T332 Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Colin Trengrove | 2 | - | 2 | |
= | John Wright | Lola T400 Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | John Wright | - | 2 | 2 | |
10 | Peter Middleton[10] | Elfin MR8-C Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Peter Middleton | 1 | - | 1 | |
= | Barry Singleton | Gardos BL1 Repco Holden | Over 1600cc | Barry Singleton | - | 1 | 1 |
The conditions for the 1981 championship were published by CAMS under the name "Australian Formula 1 Championship".[1] Australian Motor Racing Year 1981/82 uses both Australian Drivers Championship and Australian Formula One Championship in its review of the series.[3] Racing Car News, January 1982 uses Australian Drivers Championship.[4] CAMS uses Australian Drivers' Championship in its historical records[2] and that has been followed here.