1981 Australian Drivers' Championship
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The 1981 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned Australian motor racing title open to racing cars complying with Australian Formula 1. It was the 25th Australian Drivers' Championship. The title winner, Alfredo Costanzo was awarded the 1981 CAMS "Gold Star".
Schedule
The championship was contested over a two-round series.
| 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 |
Classes
Car competed in two classes:
- Up to 1600cc
- Over 1600cc
Points system
Championship points were awarded at each round on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six finishers in each class. Additional points were awarded at each round on a 4-3-2-1 basis to the first four finishers outright, regardless of class.
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. 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.
Championship results
| Position | Driver | Car | Class | Entrant | San. | Ama. | Total |
| 1 | Alfredo Costanzo | McLaren M26 Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Porsche Cars Australia | 13 | 13 | 26 |
| 2 | Ray Hanger | March 77B Ford BDA | 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 | 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 | Elfin MR8-C Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Peter Middleton | 1 | - | 1 |
| = | Barry Singleton | Gardos BL1 Repco Holden | Over 1600cc | Barry Singleton | - | 1 | 1 |
Championship name
The conditions for the 1981 championship were published by CAMS under the name "Australian Formula 1 Championship". Australian Motor Racing Year 1981/82 uses both Australian Drivers Championship and Australian Formula One Championship in its review of the series. Racing Car News, January 1982 uses Australian Drivers Championship. CAMS uses Australian Drivers' Championship in its historical records and that has been followed here.