The 1994 Australian Formula Ford Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title for drivers of Formula Ford racing cars. It was the 25th national series for Formula Fords to be held in Australia and 2nd to carry the Australian Formula Ford Championship name.

1994 saw the series debut of young Queanbeyan driver and future multiple Formula One Grand Prix winner Mark Webber. Driving an ex-Craig Lowndes Van Diemen RF93 his father had purchased for him, Webber finished 14th in the series.

Steven Richards, the son of multiple Bathurst and Australian Touring Car Champion Jim Richards, dominated the series winning six of the eight rounds in his Valvoline sponsored Van Diemen. Finishing second (also in a Van Diemen) was Gavin Monaghan, with Jason Bright finishing third in his Swift SC93F.

Van Diemen was easily the most popular chassis in the series with over 20 appearing on the grids. Swift Racing Cars supplied seven cars, while the lone Reynard in the field was driven by another future Bathurst winner, Jason Bargwanna.

Calendar

The championship was contested over an eight-round series with two races per round.

RoundCircuitDatesRound winnerMap
1New South Wales Amaroo Park27 FebruaryAustralia Gavin MonaghanPhillip IslandAmaroo ParkSandownWannerooWintonMallalaLakesideOran Park
2Victoria (state) Sandown Raceway6 MarchNew Zealand Steven Richards
3Victoria (state) Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit10 AprilAustralia Gavin Monaghan
4Queensland Lakeside International Raceway24 AprilNew Zealand Steven Richards
5Victoria (state) Winton Motor Raceway15 MayNew Zealand Steven Richards
6South Australia Mallala Motor Sport Park26 JuneNew Zealand Steven Richards
7Western Australia Wanneroo Raceway3 JulyNew Zealand Steven Richards
8New South Wales Oran Park Raceway24 JulyNew Zealand Steven Richards

Results

Championship points were awarded at each race on the following basis:

Position1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
Points201614121086421
PosDriverNo.CarEntrantNew South Wales AMAVictoria (state) SANVictoria (state) PHIQueensland LAKVictoria (state) WINSouth Australia MALWestern Australia WANNew South Wales ORAPts
1New Zealand Steven Richards4Van Diemen RF94Garry Rogers Motorsport3240204040404040292
2Australia Gavin Monaghan5Van Diemen RF94Gavin Monaghan401436832222230204
3Australia Jason Bright50Swift SC93FJason Bright2613221028303228189
4Australia Mark Noske11Van Diemen RF94Garry Rogers Motorsport26-1232241826-138
5Australia Cameron Partington13Van Diemen RF93Cameron Partington1228105-1010580
6Australia Mathew Martin15Swift SC94FMcGuigan Bros Wines-1362888-1275
7Australia Darren Edwards14Swift SC93FDarren Edwards20----30-1868
8Australia Ashley Cutchie18Van Diemen RF92Timezone4328124---60
9Australia Dugal McDougall48Van Diemen RF93McDougall Motorsport46822-8-149
10Australia Stephen Boulden59Van Diemen RF91McDougall Motorsport-212-168-846
11Australia Tim WoodSwift SC92F16-422----42
12Australia David Harrington22Van Diemen RF93David Harrington182320---34
13Australia Geoff FullVan Diemen RF94-1614-----30
Australia Mark Webber38Van Diemen RF93Mark Webber--14-12-4-30
15Australia Michael DuttonSwift SC93F--2----2628
16Australia Ray Stubber58Van Diemen RF94Fastlane Racing------22-22
17Australia Paul Stephenson41Van Diemen RF92Paul Stephenson--11--1-416
18Australia Jason BargwannaReynard 88FUgly Kid Racing-------1414
19Australia Con ToparisSwift SC94F-12------12
Australia Michael HendersonVan Diemen RF90------12-12
21Australia Shaun WalkerVan Diemen RF91------10-10
Australia Ricky Goddard66Van Diemen RF93Ricky Goddard-----10--10
23Australia Leif CorbenVan Diemen RF901--42---7
Australia Gary Gosatti20Van Diemen RF94Fastlane Racing-----16-7
25Australia Peter Fitzgerald91Van Diemen RF92Peter Fitzgerald-24-----6
26Australia Tim Dore77Van Diemen RF94Tim Dore2-------2
Australia Wayne BoatwrightSwift SC93F2-------2
28Australia David GosattiVan Diemen RF90------1-1
Australia John McCowanVan Diemen RF90------1-1
PosDriverNo.CarEntrantNew South Wales AMAVictoria (state) SANVictoria (state) PHIQueensland LAKVictoria (state) WINSouth Australia MALWestern Australia WANNew South Wales ORAPts

Further reading

  • Phil Branagan, Richards the Lionheart, Australian Motor Racing Year, 1994/95, pages 188-193