Calendar revealed for CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship

01 Dec 2014

All rounds to run alongside the V8 Supercars, with the new category kicking off in Townsville on 2015.

3 mins by James Pavey

2014

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The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) has revealed the calendar for the inaugural Australian Formula 4 Championship in 2015.

The new category's Championship will start in July next year, with Australian motor sport history to be made on the streets of Townsville, Queensland - that's where young drivers will fire up the new Formula 4 racing machines in the first of a seven round championship.

All seven rounds of the CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship - the new single seater category that focuses on driver development - starting with Townsville and ending at the Sydney 500 at Homebush, will be on the V8 Supercars Championship calendar.

As well as being a requirement of the FIA, it is essential for the success and longevity of the series that Formula 4 be featured on the V8 Supercars Championship calendar given the exposure and television coverage it provides as Australia's premier racing category.

The championship will receive significant television coverage as part of the 2015 V8 Supercars coverage on Channel 10 and Foxtel.

V8 Supercars Chief Executive Officer James Warburton has welcomed the championship kick off in Townsville, by supporting junior development in partnership with CAMS.

"Formula 4 is an exciting new category and V8 Supercars is pleased to have this new category of young stars on our calendar in 2015. I have little doubt it will make for very competitive and entertaining racing by our motor sport stars of the future," said Warburton.

"We very much look forward to seeing the first race of the CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship in front of a big crowd of V8 Supercars fans in Townsville. It will be an historic moment for motor sport as we work with CAMS to provide better pathways for young people, male and female."

The anticipation is building for not only competitors ahead of the first CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship, but also for CAMS. Chief Executive Officer Eugene Arocca stated he was eagerly awaiting what the exciting new category will bring to the Australian motor sport landscape.

"Along with a lot of people at CAMS and the FIA, I am just as excited as the young drivers who will be competing in the CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship next year," he said.

"It is a landmark and history making moment for Australian motor sport and I look forward to seeing these Formula 4 machines fire up and provide fans with a glimpse of our motor sport stars in the making," he said.

The championship car will use a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis and will be powered by an engine developing approximately 160bhp mated to a paddle shift gearbox, plus wings and slick tyres.

The winning driver will receive the CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship trophy and up to $250,000 in financial support that will assist in the progression to the next appropriate development pathway for that driver.

The second, third and fourth placed drivers in the CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship will also be supported through the opportunity to take up an official test with a V8 Supercar Dunlop Series team.

CAMS will soon announce an engine partner and a sole tyre and oil supplier.

Full 2015 CAMS Australian Formula 4 Championship Calendar:

July 10-12: Castrol Townsville 400 - Reid ParkJuly 31-Aug 2: Coates Hire Ipswich SuperSprint - Queensland RacewayAug 21-23: Sydney Motorsport Park SuperSprint - Sydney Motorsport ParkSep 11-13: Wilson Security Sandown 500 - Sandown RacewayOct 23-25: Castrol EDGE Gold Coast 600 - Surfers ParadiseNov 20-22: Phillip Island SuperSprint - Phillip IslandDec 4-6: Sydney 500 - Sydney Olympic Park