1996 Australian Drivers' Championship
The 1996 Australian Drivers' Championship was an Australian motor racing competition for racing cars complying with CAMS Formula Holden regulations.[1] The championship winner was awarded the 1996 CAMS Gold Star as the Australian Drivers' Champion.[1] It was the 40th running of the Australian Drivers' Championship and the eighth to feature the Formula Holden category. The championship began on 8 March 1996 at the Albert Park Street Circuit and ended on 2 June at Mallala Motor Sport Park after eight races held over four rounds.
Paul Stokell won his third Australian Drivers' Championship in a season dominated by him and his Birrana Racing teammate Jason Bright. The two dark blue Reynard 91Ds won every race of the season except one. Bright's early season unreliability became the difference between the two at season's end. The only race they did not claim was race two at the 1996 Australian Grand Prix meeting which saw Europe-bound Mark Webber in a guest drive in the Graham Watson owned Reynard, take the win when both Stokell and Bright retired. Darren Edwards was consistently best of the rest of the field, claiming four top three finishes over the season. Stephen Cramp took three second places at the start of the season but faded, dropping to fifth position in the championship behind Adam Kaplan.
Teams and drivers
[edit]The following drivers competed in the 1996 Australian Drivers' Championship.
Race calendar
[edit]The 1996 Australian Drivers' Championship was contested over eight races at four rounds held in two states.[4]
| Rd/Race. | Circuit | Location / state | Date | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1/1 | Albert Park Circuit | Melbourne, Victoria | 8 March | Paul Stokell |
| R1/2 | 9 March | Mark Webber | ||
| R2/1 | Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit | Phillip Island, Victoria | 14 April | Paul Stokell |
| R2/2 | Paul Stokell | |||
| R3/1 | Calder Park Raceway | Melbourne, Victoria | 28 April | Jason Bright |
| R3/2 | Jason Bright | |||
| R4/1 | Mallala Motor Sport Park | Mallala, South Australia | 2 June | Paul Stokell |
| R4/2 | Jason Bright |
Results
[edit]Points were awarded 20–15–12–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 based on the top ten race positions in each race.[1] Only half points were awarded for Race 1 of Round 2 at Phillip Island.[4]
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Notes and references
[edit]- ^ a b c 1996 CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, page 7-10
- ^ Official Programme, Transurban Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, 7 to 10 March 1996, page 106
- ^ Event 15, Official Programme, Mallala, 2 June 1996
- ^ a b Five Way Fight, Official Programme, Mallala, 2 June 1996
- ^ a b 1996 Championship Results, Motor Racing Australia No 25, Jan/Feb 1997, page 84
- ^ Motor Racing Australia No 25, Jan/Feb 1997, page 84 incorrectly shows 39 points for Abrahams
