The 2004 Australian Drivers' Championship was an Australian motor racing competition open to Formula 4000 cars.2004 Holden Australian Drivers’ Championship Sporting Regulations, www.cams.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org It was the 48th Australian Drivers' ChampionshipAustralian Drivers’ Championship – CAMS Gold Star, docs.cams.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org and the sixteen and last to be contested by Formula Holden / Formula Brabham / Formula 4000 cars. The championship winner was awarded the 2004 CAMS Gold Star and the Silver Star Trophy was awarded to the winner of the "Silver Star" class which was restricted to approved competitors.
The championship, which was promoted as the 2004 Holden Australian Drivers' Championship, was dominated by reigning Australian Formula Ford Champion Neil McFadyen. McFadyn won six of the eight races and took second place at each of the two Winton Motor Raceway races behind International Formula 3000 returnee Rob Nguyen. With only one race finish off the podium, but no wins, Ty Hanger was the runner up ahead of Nguyen.
Teams and drivers Entrant Chassis No Drivers Class Rounds Fahey Motorsport Reynard 91D 6 Greg Fahey S 1, 3 W.I.S.C. Racing Lola T87/50 8 Derek Pingel S 4 Ralt Australia Reynard 94D 11 Paul Trengove 1–3 Reynard 95D Michael Joannou 4 Reynard 96D 12 Neil McFadyen All Pure Power Motorsport Reynard 92D 13 Ryan Campbell S 3 55 Christina Orr-West 4 Mantis Racing Reynard 96D 17 Bob Power 1 Mark Ellis S 2 Stephen Borness 3–4 Peters Racing Reynard 91D 24 Ian Peters S All National Neon Signs Racing Reynard 92D 27 Terry Clearihan S All Formula Uno Racing Reynard 92D 32 Ricky Occhipinti 1–2 Hanger Racing Reynard 92D 35 Christopher Farrell S 2 Ray Hanger S 3–4 Reynard 95D 48 Ty Hanger All Arlec CRD Motorsport Reynard 95D 49 Rohan Carrig S All Just Part Magazines Reynard 97D 50 Mark West All Hocking Motorsport Reynard 97D 74 Rob Nguyen All
Calendar The championship was contested over a four-round series with two races per round.Points Standings - 2004 Holden Australian Drivers Championship, www.f4000.com, as archived at web.archive.org Round Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning team 1 R1 Mallala Motor Sport Park(Mallala, South Australia) 9 May Neil McFadyen Neil McFadyen Neil McFadyen Ralt Australia R2 Neil McFadyen Neil McFadyen Ralt Australia 2 R1 Winton Motor Raceway(Benalla, Victoria) 6 June Rob Nguyen Rob Nguyen Rob Nguyen Hocking Motorsport R2 Rob Nguyen Rob Nguyen Hocking Motorsport 3 R1 Oran Park Raceway(Sydney, New South Wales) 27 June Neil McFadyen Neil McFadyen Neil McFadyen Ralt Australia R2 Neil McFadyen Neil McFadyen Ralt Australia 4 R1 Eastern Creek International Raceway(Sydney, New South Wales) 1 August Neil McFadyen Rob Nguyen Neil McFadyen Ralt Australia R2 Rob Nguyen Neil McFadyen Ralt Australia
The winner of each round (for presentation purposes only) was determined by the aggregation of Championship points awarded in that round.
Points system Gold Start points were awarded on a 20–15–12–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the first ten outright finishers in each race. Silver Star points were awarded on a 20–15–12–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the first ten Silver Star class finishers in each race.
Standings Position Driver No.Sessions & Race Results, f4000.com, as archived at web.archive.org Car Entrant Mallala Winton Oran Pk Eastern Ck Total R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 GOLD STAR 1 Neil McFadyen 11 Reynard 96D Holden Ralt Australia 20 20 15 15 20 20 20 20 150 2 Ty Hanger 48 Reynard 95D Holden Hanger Racing 10 12 12 12 15 15 15 15 106 3 Rob Nguyen 74 Reynard 97D Holden Hocking Motorsport - - 20 20 6 12 12 12 82 4 Ian Peters 24 Reynard 91D Holden Peters Racing 6 8 8 8 4 8 4 10 56 5 Terry Clearihan 27 Reynard 92D Holden NNS Racing - 3 10 10 10 10 10 - 53 6 Paul Trengove 12 Reynard 94D Holden Ralt Australia 15 15 - - 12 - - - 42 7 Mark West 50 Reynard 97D Holden Reynard 98D Holden Just Part Magazines 8 6 - 6 - - 6 8 34 8 Ricky Occhipinti 32 Reynard 97D Holden Formula Uno Racing 12 10 - - - - - - 22 9 Rohan Carrig 49 Reynard 92D Holden Arlec CRD Motorsport - 4 4 2 2 6 - 3 21 10 Stephen Borness 17 Reynard 96D Holden Mantis Racing - - - - 8 - 8 - 16 11 Michael Joannou 12 Reynard 94D Holden Reynard 95D Holden Ralt Australia - - 6 3 - - - 6 15 12 Greg Fahey 5 Reynard 91D Holden Fahey Motorsport 4 2 2 1 1 - - - 10 13 Ray Hanger 35 Reynard 92D Holden Hanger Racing - - - - - 4 2 2 8 14 Derek Pingel 8 Lola T87/50 Holden WISC Racing - - - - - - 3 4 7 15 Mark Ellis 17 Reynard-Holden Mantis Racing - - - 4 - - - - 4 16 Ryan Campbell 13 Reynard-Holden Pure Power Racing - - - - 3 - - - 3 Chris Farrell 35 Reynard 92D Holden Hanger Racing - - 3 - - - - - 3 18 Cristina Orr 55 Reynard 92D Holden Pure Power Racing - - - - - - 1 1 2 SILVER STAR 1 Ian Peters 24 Reynard 91D Holden Peters Racing 20 20 15 15 15 15 15 20 135 2 Terry Clearihan 27 Reynard 92D Holden NNS Racing - 12 20 20 20 20 20 - 112 3 Rohan Carrig 49 Reynard 92D Holden Arlec CRD Motorsport - 15 12 10 10 12 - 12 71 4 Greg Fahey 5 Reynard 91D Holden Fahey Motorsport 15 10 8 8 8 - - - 49 5 Ray Hanger 35 Reynard 92D Holden Hanger Racing - - - - - 10 10 10 30 6 Derek Pingel 8 Lola T87/50 Holden WISC Racing - - - - - - 12 15 27 7 Mark Ellis 17 Reynard-Holden Mantis Racing - - - 12 - - - - 12 Ryan Campbell 13 Reynard-Holden Pure Power Racing - - - - 12 - - - 12 9 Chris Farrell 35 Reynard 92D Holden Hanger Racing - - 10 - - - - - 10
References
Further reading Australian Title Conditions, CAMS Manual of Motor Sport, 2004 Official Program, Mallala Power Surge 2004, Sunday 9 May
External links www.f4000.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org Online Race Results at www.natsoft.com.au