View source for Formula Holden

{{Short description|Former Single-Seater Racing Championship}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}}
{{Motorsport formula
| logo              = 
| pixels            = 
| caption           = 
| category          = [[Open wheel car]]
| country/region    = Australia<br>New Zealand<br>South-east Asia
| championships     = [[Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| inaugural         = 1989
| status            = Defunct
| folded            = 2007
| current champions = 
}}

[[File:Murphy-ralt.jpg|thumb|right|[[Greg Murphy]]'s Ralt RT23 Formula Holden]]
[[File:Reynard92dholden.jpg|thumb|right|Reynard 92D]]
[[File:Shrike NB89H.jpg|thumb|right|The Shrike NB89H designed by Adelaide [[TAFE South Australia|TAFE]] students]]

'''Formula Holden''' was an Australian [[open wheel racing]] category introduced in 1989.

==History==
Known during its development as Formula Australia, it was initially for chassis constructed from aluminium only, running a [[Buick V6 engine|3.8-litre Buick V6]] engine as it was then utilised in the new versions of the [[Holden Commodore (VN)]]. Many of the engines used in the category were built by [[Perkins Engineering]], who normally built [[Group A]] [[Holden Commodore SS Group A|Holden Commodore]]s and [[Holden V8 engine|V8 race engines]] for privateer [[Touring Car racing|touring car]] teams, as well as company owner, multiple [[Bathurst 1000]] winner and ex-[[Formula One]] driver [[Larry Perkins]]. Early in 1990, Perkins was reported as saying that his Formula Holden engines were putting out approximately {{cvt|320|bhp|kW PS|0}}. To make the V6 engines suitable for racing (in the Commodore road cars the engines developed {{cvt|221|bhp|kW PS|0}}), a number of specialised parts were supplied by original series sponsor Automotive Components Limited (ACL, a subsidiary of [[Repco]]).

Second-hand [[Formula 3000]] chassis were targeted immediately as a cheap source of cars in addition to local constructors, and under CAMS rules, all cars had to be at least one year old. Formula Holden also used a [[Dunlop Tyres|Dunlop]] control tyre in its early years. For the 1992 season cars constructed from carbon fibre were allowed. In 2006 an engine upgrade was made available to the [[GM High Feature engine#LY7|3.6-litre Alloytec V6]] engine, although take-up of the Alloytec V6 was far from universal. The engines were usually mounted in ex- Formula 3000 chassis, a large number of which were sourced from the [[Formula Nippon]] championship in [[Japan]], but also included cars from other sources and a few specifically designed for the class, like the Australian designed [[Cheetah Racing Cars|Cheetah]], [[Elfin Sports Cars|Elfin]], Liston, Spa (designed by F1 designer [[Gary Anderson (F1 designer)|Gary Anderson]]), and the [[Shrike (racing car)|Shrike]] cars which were designed and built by technical students at the [[TAFE South Australia|Croydon Park Institute of TAFE]] in [[Adelaide]].

Formula Holden was in essence a budget form of Formula 3000, the main difference being the engines. As detailed, Formula Holden ran the 3.8 Litre Holden V6 engines. Formula 3000, as its name suggests, ran 3.0 Litre [[V8 engine]]s including the [[Cosworth DFV]] and later the popular [[Mugen Motorsports|Mugen]]-[[Honda]] which were capable of producing over {{cvt|500|bhp|kW PS|0}}. As a guide to the speed difference between the two categories, television commentator and Formula Holden race driver [[Neil Crompton]] tested a Mugen powered [[Dome (constructor)|Dome]] Japanese F3000 car at the [[Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit|Phillip Island Circuit]] in early 1990. The Dome (driven by regular drivers [[Ross Cheever]] and [[Thomas Danielsson]]) lapped the 4.445&nbsp;km (2.762&nbsp;mi) circuit in approximately 1:18 while two months later for the opening round of the [[1990 Australian Drivers' Championship]], the fastest Formula Holden qualifier was the Ralt RT21 of [[Simon Kane]] who qualified in 1:26.97. The Holden V6 engines reportedly had similar torque figures to the F3000 V8's, though they had around {{cvt|180|bhp|kW PS|0}} less than the V8's which saw the Australian cars have much less top speed.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snoqNVlXuVE 1990 Phillip Island Raceway Dunlop Tyre Testing]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzerhkDjKbc Phillip Island 1990 Formula Holden]</ref>

From its inception in 1989 until 2004 the formula was used to determine the winner of the [[Australian Drivers' Championship]] for the [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport|CAMS]] Gold Star, replacing [[Australian Formula 2|Formula 2]] which had been the Gold Star category in 1987 and 1988. From 2005 this title was moved to the [[Australian Formula 3]] Championship.

The first ever Formula Holden race was held at the [[Mallala Motor Sport Park]] in [[South Australia]]. Mark McLaughlin driving an [[Elfin Sports Cars|Elfin FA891]], designed and built at the Elfin factory in nearby [[Adelaide]], won the opening race from former dual [[Australian Formula 2]] champion Peter Glover in an Australian designed [[Cheetah Racing Cars|Cheetah Mk.9]] with television commentator turned race driver [[Neil Crompton]] third in his [[Ralt|Ralt RT21]]. During the race, television broadcaster [[Seven Network|Channel 7]] claimed that a Formula Holden engine would cost approximately [[Australian dollar|A$]]9,700 compared to upwards of $25,000 for an engine (usually the [[Cosworth BDA]]) of the superseded open wheel category, [[Formula Mondial]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bENshhkejM Formula Holden first ever race]</ref>

From 1991 to 1995 the category was officially known as '''Formula Brabham'''<ref name=Melbourne>Once bitten......twice as good!, Official Programme, Transurban Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne, 7 to 10 March 1996, pages 104-106</ref> in honour of Australia's first ever Formula One World Champion [[Sir Jack Brabham]], the only person in history to win the World Championship in a car of his own design in {{F1|1966}}. Sir Jack acted as the category patron for five seasons. In 1996 the name reverted to Formula Holden<ref name=Melbourne/> 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]] Grands Prix, and Tasman Cup (Australia versus New Zealand) summer series. It was also proposed to be used for an Asian series based in [[China]]. With numbers dropping, largely thanks to the rise of [[V8 Supercars]] which all but monopolised big dollar sponsors and television coverage, and the increasing prominence of Formula 3, the class was dropped by the CAMS 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]] (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]], the lack of competition in the series means that drivers tended to progress from Formula 4000 to a minor series in Europe ([[Will Power]] - [[British Formula 3 International Series|British Formula 3]]) or North America ([[Scott Dixon]] - [[Indy Lights]]). Alternatively drivers moved to any of the Australian sedan based championships such as [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]] or [[Australian GT Championship|Australian GT]].

From 1 January 2012, Formula Holden cars with a competition history established prior to 31 December 1991 are eligible to compete in Group R "Historic Racing & Sports Racing Cars (post-1977)".<ref name=GroupR>
[http://www.cams.com.au/en/Sport/~/media/958393CB1D124664B75527D962E0123B.ashx CAMS Bulletin Number: B11/127]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Retrieved on 10 April 2012</ref> However, cars constructed with a full carbon tub are specifically excluded from this Group.<ref name=GroupR/>

==Champions==
{| class="wikitable"
! Championship!!Category Name!!Champion!!Vehicle
|-
| [[1989 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Rohan Onslow]]
| [[Ralt]] RT20
|-
| [[1990 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Simon Kane]]
| Ralt RT21
|-
| [[1991 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Brabham 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Skaife]] 
| [[Spa Cars|Spa]] FB003
|-
| [[1992 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Brabham
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Skaife]] 
| Spa FB003
|-
| [[1993 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Brabham 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Skaife]] 
| [[Lola Cars|Lola]] T91/50
|-
| [[1994 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Brabham 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Paul Stokell]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]] 91D
|-
| [[1995 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Brabham 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Paul Stokell]]
| Reynard 91D
|-
| [[1996 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Paul Stokell]]
| Reynard 91D
|-
| [[1997 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jason Bright]] 
| Reynard 91D
|-
| [[1998 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden 
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Scott Dixon]] 
| Reynard 92D
|-
| [[1999 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden 
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Simon Wills (racing driver)|Simon Wills]] 
| Reynard 94D
|-
| [[2000 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden 
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Simon Wills (racing driver)|Simon Wills]] 
| Reynard 94D
|-
| [[2001 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Rick Kelly]]
| Reynard 94D
|-
| [[2002 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula Holden 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Will Power]]
| Reynard 94D
|-
| [[2003 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula 4000 
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Daniel Gaunt]]
| Reynard 96D
|-
| [[2004 Australian Drivers' Championship]]
| Formula 4000 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Neil McFadyen]]
| Reynard 95D
|-
| [[2005 Australian Formula 4000 Championship]] ([[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport|CAMS]])
| Formula 4000 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Peter Hackett (racing driver)|Peter Hackett]]
| Reynard 96D
|-
| [[2006 Australian Formula 4000 Championship]] ([[Australian Motor Racing Series|AMRS]])
| Formula 4000 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Derek Pingel]]
| Reynard 95D
|-
| [[2007 OzBoss Championship]] ([[Australian Motor Racing Series|AMRS]])
| OzBoss Championships, F3000V6 class 
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ty Hanger]]
| Reynard 95D
|}

==Cars used in Formula Holden==
[[Cheetah Racing Cars|Cheetah]] Mk.9, [[Dome (constructor)|Dome]] F102, [[Elfin Sports Cars|Elfin]] FA891, Hocking 901, Hocking 911, Liston BF3, [[Lola Cars|Lola]] T87/50, Lola T91/50, Lola T93/50, [[March Engineering|March]] 87B, [[Ralt]] RT4, Ralt RT20, Ralt RT21, Ralt RT23, [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]] 89D, Reynard 90D, Reynard 91D, Reynard 92D, Reynard 93D, Reynard 94D, Reynard 95D, Reynard 96D, Reynard 97D, Reynard 98D, [[Shrike (racing car)|Shrike NB89H]], SPA 001, SPA 002, SPA 003.

==Lap Records==
Despite Formula Holden not being raced competitively in Australia since 2007, the class still holds the outright lap records at a number of Australian and New Zealand race circuits. As of May 2024 the list is:<ref>[http://racing.natsoft.com.au/results/ Natsoft Race Results]</ref>

===Australia===
* [[Canberra Street Circuit]]* - 1:39.5409 - Simon Wills, [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard 94D]], 10 June 2000
* [[Hidden Valley Raceway]] - 1:02.9268 - Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 13 May 2001
* [[Lakeside International Raceway]] - 0:46.66, [[Paul Stokell]], [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard 91D]], 17 July 1994
* [[Mallala Motor Sport Park]] - 1:02.57 - Paul Stokell, [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard 90D]], 7 August 1994
* [[Oran Park Raceway]] (GP)* - 1:01.6718 - Tim Leahey, [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard 92D]], 30 July 2000
* Oran Park Raceway (South)* - 0:37.73 - Paul Stokell, Reynard 90D, 28 August 1994
* [[Queensland Raceway]] - 1:04.0661 - Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 11 July 1999
* [[Winton Motor Raceway]] (Club) - 0:52.99 - [[Mark Larkham]], [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard 90D]], 4 April 1992
<small>''* Circuit closed''</small>

===New Zealand===
* [[Manfeild Autocourse]] (short) - 1:01.457 - Simon Wills, Reynard 94D, 26 November 2000
* [[Mike Pero Motorsport Park]] - 1.15.81 [[Scott Dixon]] Reynard 92D, 1998
* [[Teretonga Park]] - 0:51.206 - [[Greg Murphy]], Reynard 92D, 1998
* [[Timaru International Motor Raceway]] - 0:56.26 Greg Murphy, Reynard 92D, 1995

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20031225082718/http://www.f4000.com/ Official site]

{{Class of Auto racing}}

[[Category:Formula Holden| ]]
[[Category:Motorsport categories in Australia]]