2001 Australian Formula Ford Championship

The 2001 Australian Formula Ford Championship was an Australian motor racing competition for Formula Ford cars. It was sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as an Australian title. Promoted as the Ford Racing Australian Formula Ford Championship, it was the 32nd national series for Formula Fords to be held in Australia and the ninth to carry the Australian Formula Ford Championship name.

The season was dominated by both Will Davison and Will Power, with both drivers winning 14 out of the 15 races completed. Nick Agland was the only other driver to win a race; taking victory at Sandown as both Davison and Power retired from proceedings. Their overwhelming success as compared to the rest of the field led to a year-long title fight that would be dubbed The Battle of the Will's. Davison secured pole position in all but one of the events, and in the penultimate round in Queensland, he secured the championship with a round to spare.

This season would see the emergence of future V8 Supercar champion, Jamie Whincup. Entering a privately-run entry, his pace improved considerably throughout the year and his consistency helped secure him third outright in the drivers standings. Long-time rival Mark Winterbottom would also make his debut in racing cars midway through the season with Borland Racing Developments.

Teams and drivers

Team	Chassis	No	Driver	Rounds
Borland Racing Developments	Spectrum 05	5	Australia Nick Agland	All
Spectrum 05	41	Australia Mark Winterbottom	6, 8
Spectrum 06	71	Australia Michael Caruso	1–7
Sonic Motor Racing Services	Van Diemen RF01	6	Australia Will Davison	All
Van Diemen RF01	17	Australia Marcus Marshall	4–6, 8
Power Racing	Van Diemen RF95	7	Australia Will Power	All
Factory Enterprises	Spectrum 06b	9	Australia Justin Cotter	4–5, 7–8
JW Motorsport	Van Diemen RF94	10	Australia Stuart Kostera	All
Hanger Racing	Spectrum 06b	11	Australia Ty Hanger	1–3, 5–8
Barton Mower Motorsport	Van Diemen RF01	12	Australia Barton Mawer	1–3
Fastlane Racing	Van Diemen RF94	13	Australia Chris Dell	1–5, 8
Van Diemen RF90	37	Australia Ryan Hitzman	3
Van Diemen RF94	38	Australia Daniel Elliott	3, 5–6, 8
Van Diemen RF94	50	New Zealand Robby Henderson	3, 5–6
Van Diemen RF92	62	New Zealand Matt Fitzgerald	8
Van Diemen RF91	63	New Zealand Darren Drake	8
Van Diemen RF92	82	Australia David Cocciolone	3
Van Diemen RF94	93	Australia Paul Fiore	3
Brad Jones Racing	Van Diemen RF94	15	Australia Andrew Jones	All
Simon Wheeler	Van Diemen RF98	16	Australia Simon Wheeler	3
No Limit Racing	Van Diemen RF01	17	Australia Marcus Marshall	1–3
Robert Jones	Van Diemen RF94	21	Australia Robert Jones	4, 6
Black Cat Racing Products	Spectrum 07	22	Australia Chris Templer	1–3
J&F Motors	Van Diemen RF97	24	Australia Steven Grocl	1, 8
Daniel Reinhardt	Spectrum 06	28	Australia Daniel Reinhardt	8
Bob's Panels	Mygale 98	29	Australia Adrian McCurdy	1, 4, 8
Whincup Racing	Mygale SJ2000	30	Australia Jamie Whincup	All
Anglo Australian Motorsport	Van Diemen RF93	31	Australia Jack Lynch	1–5
Van Diemen RF94	35	Australia Andrew Tomlinson	5–6
Kurt Wimmer	Van Diemen RF95	32	Australia Kurt Wimmer	7
Perth Brake Parts	Van Diemen RF92	33	Australia Steve Baxter	1, 3
John Pettit	Swift FB90	33	Australia John Pettit	5
Lowe Racing	Swift SC93K	34	Australia Ash Lowe	1–2, 4–8
Mark Douglas	Van Diemen RF94	34	Australia Mark Douglas	3
Michael Henderson	Swift SC95K	35	Australia Michael Henderson	3
Chris Gilmour	Van Diemen RF96	36	Australia Chris Gilmour	7
Craig Kermond	Van Diemen RF93	39	Australia Craig Kermond	1
Sausage Software	Van Diemen RF94	40	Australia Hart Mason	1–6
In Tune Racing	Swift SC95	42	Australia John Houlder	2
Rupert Collins Plastics	Spectrum 06b	42	Australia Adam Hickey	8
James Small Racing	Mygale SJ01	43	Australia James Small	1, 3–6, 8
Matthew Cherry	Spectrum 06	44	Australia Matthew Cherry	3
ESANDA	Van Diemen RF93	44	Australia Geoff Calvert	8
Kai Heller	Van Diemen RF97	46	Australia Kai Heller	3
Tim Wheeler	Van Diemen RF98	48	Australia Tim Wheeler	3
Nick Torelli	Spectrum 06	49	Australia Nick Torelli	1, 5
JV Crash	Ray 95	52	Australia Jamie Carter	6
Nathan Lea Racing	Swift SC94K	53	Australia Nathan Lea	2, 5
Tony Quinn	Vector MG96	53	Australia Kent Quinn	7
Vector TF94	54	Australia Klark Quinn	7
William Hall Motorsport	Spectrum 06	55	Australia William Hall	3–4, 6
Fisher and Paykel Racing	Swift SC94F	56	Australia Justin Watt	2, 5
Neil McFadyen Racing	Van Diemen RF96	59	Australia Neil McFadyen	2, 5
Laminate Traders	Van Diemen RF96	60	Australia Sam Oliver	1, 4, 8
Jordan Orsmby	Van Diemen RF93	61	Australia Jordan Orsmby	8
G-Force Motorsport	Van Diemen RF96	63	Australia Nick Cartledge	4
MGM Zifa Motorsports	Spectrum 06	65	Malaysia Zarith Alfian	1–3
Sean Supanz	Van Diemen RF87	67	Australia Sean Supanz	3
Luke Morton	Van Diemen RF94	69	Australia Luke Morton	3
Nomad Racing	Spectrum	74	Australia Mark McNally	3
Laurence Burford	Van Diemen RF92	75	Australia Laurence Burford	2
Brian Sampson	Spectrum 06b	75	Australia Kenny Habul	8
Clem Smith	Van Diemen	78	Australia Graham Knuckey	6
Richard Chamberlain	Spectrum	79	Australia Richard Chamberlain	6, 8
Michael Boyland	Van Diemen	80	Australia Michael Boyland	6
Mineruanet Motorsport	Spectrum 06	83	Australia Veijo Phillips	1–2, 4, 6–8
Tony LeMessurier	Van Diemen RF95	87	Australia Tony LeMessurier	5, 7
Optima Motorsport	Van Diemen RF98	88	Australia David Clark	1–2, 4–7
John McCowan	Van Diemen RF90	92	Australia John McCowan	3
Greg Fahey	Van Diemen RF95	95	Australia Kevin Miller	7

Calendar

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

Round	Circuit	Dates	Supporting	Map
1	Victoria (state) Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	25 March	Shell Championship Series	Eastern CreekWannerooSandownQueenslandMallalaCalder ParkPhillip IslandOran Park
2	New South Wales Eastern Creek Raceway	29 April	Shell Championship Series
3	Western Australia Wanneroo Raceway	23–24 June	Shell Championship Series
3	Victoria (state) Calder Park Raceway	15 July	Shell Championship Series
5	New South Wales Oran Park Raceway	29 July	Shell Championship Series
6	South Australia Mallala Motor Sport Park	12 August	Konica V8 Supercar Series
7	Queensland Queensland Raceway	25–26 August	Shell Championship Series Queensland 500
8	Victoria (state) Sandown Raceway	2 December	Shell Championship Series

Season summary

Rd	Race	Circuit	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning team
1	1	Victoria (state) Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit	Australia Will Power	Australia Will Power	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services	Australia Will Power
2		Australia Will Power	Australia Will Power	Power Racing
2	1	New South Wales Eastern Creek Raceway	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Power	Australia Will Power	Power Racing	Australia Will Power
2		Australia Will Power	Australia Will Power	Power Racing
3	1	Western Australia Wanneroo Raceway	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services	Australia Will Davison
2		Australia Will Power	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services
4	1	Victoria (state) Calder Park Raceway	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services	Australia Will Davison
2		Australia Will Power	Australia Will Power	Power Racing
5	1	New South Wales Oran Park Raceway	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services	Australia Will Davison
2		Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services
6	1	South Australia Mallala Motor Sport Park	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services	Australia Will Davison
2		Australia Will Power	Australia Will Power	Power Racing
7	1	Queensland Queensland Raceway	Australia Will Davison	Australia Marcus Marshall	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services	Australia Will Davison
2		Australia Will Davison	Australia Will Davison	Sonic Motor Racing Services
8	1	Victoria (state) Sandown Raceway	Australia Will Davison	Australia Nick Agland	Australia Nick Agland	Borland Racing Developments	Australia Nick Agland
2	Race cancelled due to inclement weather

Championship standings

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

Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	Pole
Points	20	16	14	12	10	8	6	4	2	1	1

Pos.	Driver	New South Wales PHI	New South Wales EAS	Western Australia WAN	Victoria (state) CAL	New South Wales ORA	South Australia MAL	Queensland QUE	Victoria (state) SAN	Pts
R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2
1	Australia Will Davison	1	2	2	2	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	2	1	1	Ret	C	266
2	Australia Will Power	2	1	1	1	2	3	2	1	Ret	7	2	1	4	4	Ret	C	210
3	Australia Jamie Whincup	3	3	3	3	8	Ret	3	7	Ret	8	6	3	5	3	2	C	146
4	Australia Stuart Kostera	10	11	7	7	3	2	4	3	2	3	8	10	11	7	Ret	C	121
5	Australia Nick Agland	19	12	4	4	6	14	Ret	Ret	4	5	4	6	3	12	1	C	108
6	Australia Andrew Jones	4	4	6	6	5	5	Ret	Ret	7	6	21	5	8	6	6	C	104
7	Australia Marcus Marshall	17	9	9	10	14	16	5	5	3	2	Ret	Ret	2	2	3	C	101
8	Australia Chris Dell	5	5	Ret	11	21	Ret	Ret	DNS	5	4					7	C	48
9	Australia David Clark	6	6	12	9	13	25	6	4	DSQ	15	10	19	7	9			47
10	Australia Ty Hanger	7	10	8	8	9	8	9	12	8	10	7	7	9	Ret	Ret	C	42
11	Australia Daniel Elliott	DNS	DNS			4	4			15	11	5	15			8	C	38
12	New Zealand Robbie Henderson					7	6			6	Ret	3	12					36
=	Australia Justin Cotter							Ret	8	19	9			6	5	4	C	36
14	Australia Barton Mawer	12	8	5	5	15	9	DNS	DNS	11	Ret							26
15	Australia James Small	8	7	13	13	12	Ret	10	6	Ret	16	15	Ret			Ret	C	19
16	Australia Ash Lowe	18	13	10	Ret			7	9	10	13	9	11	10	8	11	C	17
17	Australia Mark Winterbottom											Ret	13			5	C	10
18	Australia Veijo Phillips	14	Ret	15	14			8	Ret			11	8	13	13	Ret	C	8
19	Australia Steve Baxter	15	14			10	7											7
20	Australia Jack Lynch	9	Ret	11	16	20	19	14	10	9	12							5
21	Australia Richard Chamberlain											13	9			Ret	C	2
=	Australia Daniel Reinhardt															9	C	2
23	Australia David Cocciolone					18	10											1
=	Australia Michael Caruso	22	15	14	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	13	13	14	12	10	14	11			1
=	Australia Hart Mason	13	20	16	17	19	15	13	14	12	Ret	14	14	12	10			1
=	New Zealand Darren Drake															10	C	1
-	Australia Chris Templer	11	17	17	15	17	20											0
-	Australia Steven Grocl	16	16													14	C	0
-	Australia Sam Oliver	20	18					DNS	DNS							12	C	0
-	Australia Craig Kermond	21	19															0
-	Australia Adrian McCurdy	23	Ret					15	Ret							15	C	0
-	Australia Nick Torelli	24	21							Ret	20							0
-	Malaysia Zarith Alfian	Ret	Ret	Ret	22	22	21											0
-	Australia Stuart Dedear	DNS	DNS															0
-	Australia Justin Watt			18	19					14	17							0
-	Australia Neil McFadyen			19	Ret					21	18							0
-	Australia Laurence Burford			20	18													0
-	Australia Nathan Lea			21	20					18	21							0
-	Australia John Houlder			22	21													0
-	Australia Matthew Cherry					11	12											0
-	Australia William Hall					16	13	12	16			19	17					0
-	Australia Ryan Hitzman					23	23											0
-	Australia Mark Douglas					24	18											0
-	Australia Paul Fiore					25	Ret											0
-	Australia Tim Wheeler					26	22											0
-	Australia Simon Wheeler					Ret	11											0
-	Australia Kai Heller					Ret	17											0
-	Australia Mark McNally					Ret	24											0
-	Australia John McCowan					Ret	Ret											0
-	Australia Luke Morton					Ret	Ret											0
-	Australia Robert Jones							11	11			18	16					0
-	Australia Nick Cartledge							16	15									0
-	Australia Steve Beards							DNS	DNS									0
-	Australia John Pettit									16	19							0
-	Australia Andrew Tomlinson									17	22	16	18					0
-	Australia Tony LeMessurier									Ret	DNS			17	17			0
-	Australia David Burch									20	23							0
-	Australia Jamie Carter											17	Ret					0
-	Australia Michael Boyland											20	DNS					0
-	Australia Chris Gilmour													15	15			0
-	Australia Kurt Wimmer													16	16			0
-	Australia Klark Quinn													18	14			0
-	Australia Kent Quinn													Ret	18			0
-	Australia Kevin Miller													19	19			0
-	Australia Kenny Habul															13	C	0
-	Australia Jordan Ormsby															16	C	0
-	Australia Adam Hickey															17	C	0
-	New Zealand Matt Fitzgerald															18	C	0
-	Australia Geoff Calvert															19	C	0
Pos.	Driver	New South Wales PHI	New South Wales EAS	Western Australia WAN	Victoria (state) CAL	New South Wales ORA	South Australia MAL	Queensland QUE	Victoria (state) SAN	Pts
R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2

Notes

Australian Formula Ford regulations specified the use of the Ford Kent 1600 engine.
Race two of the final round was abandoned due to bad weather.