Formula Pacific
Formula Pacific was a motor racing category which was used in the Pacific Basin area from 1977 to 1982. It specified a single-seat, open-wheeler chassis powered by a production-based four-cylinder engine of under 1600cc capacity.[1] The formula was based on Formula Atlantic, with provision made for the use of Japanese engines. The category was superseded in 1983 by Formula Mondial, which was devised by the FIA to replace both Formula Atlantic and Formula Pacific.
Introduction[]
The Formula Pacific category was created at a meeting of representatives from Pacific Basin countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan) in 1976.[2] The formula was based on Formula Atlantic, with provision made for the use of Japanese engines.[2] The first races to be held under the new formula were staged in New Zealand in January 1977.[2]
New Zealand[]
New Zealand staged its first Formula Pacific races in January 1977 [2] having abandoned Formula 5000 and moved to the new formula in that year.[3] The category continued there until Formula Mondial was introduced in 1983.[4]
Australia[]
Formula Pacific was adopted as part of Australian Formula 1 alongside the 5-litre Formula 5000 class in 1979 and it became the sole component of Australian Formula 1 in 1982. Formula Mondial was adopted as the new Australian Formula 1 in 1983 however cars complying with Formula Pacific would continue to compete alongside the new cars until the end of that year.[5]
Japan[]
The Japan Automobile Federation ran a Formula Pacific championship from 1978 to 1982.[6]
Macau[]
The Macau Grand Prix used Formula Pacific regulations from 1977 [7] until Formula 3 rules were adopted for the 1983 event.[8] Winners of the race include eventual F1 drivers Riccardo Patrese and Roberto Moreno.
List of Formula Pacific series winners[]
| Southeast Asian Series | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Driver | Car |
| 1976 |  Graeme Lawrence
|
March-Ford |
| 1977 | Steve Millen
|
Chevron-Ford |
| New Zealand International Series | ||
 Keke Rosberg
|
Chevron-Ford | |
| Keke Rosberg
|
Chevron-Ford | |
 Teo Fabi
|
March-Ford | |
| Dave McMillan
|
Ralt-Ford | |
| David Oxton
|
Ralt-Ford | |
 Roberto Moreno
|
Ralt-Ford | |
 Allen Berg
|
Ralt-Ford | |
| Ken Smith
|
Ralt-Ford | |
 Ross Cheever
|
Ralt-Ford | |
| Jeff MacPherson
|
Ralt-Ford | |
| 1987 | Mike Thackwell
|
Ralt-Ford |
| Paul Radisich
|
Ralt-Ford | |
| Dean Hall
|
Ralt-Ford | |
| Ken Smith
|
Swift-Ford | |
| Craig Baird
|
Swift-Toyota | |
| Craig Baird
|
Reynard-Toyota | |
| Craig Baird
|
Reynard-Toyota | |
| New Zealand Gold Star | ||
| 1977 | Dave McMillan
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1978 | Ross Stone
|
Cuda-Ford |
| 1979 | Dave McMillan
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1980 | Dave McMillan
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1981 | David Oxton
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1982 | David Oxton
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1983 | not held | |
| 1984 | Ken Smith
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1985 | Ken Smith
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1986 | not held | |
| 1987 | Ken Smith
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1988 | Paul Radisich
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1989 | Dean Hall
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1990 | Ken Smith
|
Swift-Ford |
| 1991 | Craig Baird
|
Swift-Toyota |
| 1992 | Craig Baird
|
Reynard-Toyota |
| 1993 | Craig Baird
|
Reynard-Toyota |
| All-Japan Championship | ||
| 1978 |  Masahiro Hasemi
|
Chevron-Nissan |
| 1979 | Takao Wada
|
March-Nissan |
| 1980 | Masahiro Hasemi
|
Chevron-Nissan |
| 1981 | Kazuyoshi Hoshino
|
March-Nissan |
| 1982 | Kazuyoshi Hoshino
|
Ralt-Nissan |
| South Pacific Championship | ||
| 1981 | David Oxton
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1982 | Roberto Moreno
|
Ralt-Ford |
| National Panasonic Series [9] | ||
| 1981[9] |  [9]
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1982 [10] | Charlie O'Brien[10]
|
Ralt RT4[10] |
| Australian Drivers' Championship (Gold Star) | ||
| 1982 | Alfredo Costanzo
|
Tiga-Ford |
| 1983 + | Alfredo Costanzo
|
Tiga-Ford |
| 1984 + | John Bowe
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1985 + | John Bowe
|
Ralt-Ford |
| 1986 + |
|
Ralt-Ford |
| FISA Formula Mondial World Cup | ||
| 1983 | Charlie O'Brien
|
Ralt-Ford |
| Indian Formula Pacific Series | ||
| 1984 |  Jim Crawford
|
Chevron-Ford |
| 1985 | Jim Crawford
|
Chevron-Ford |
| 1986 |  Vicky Chandhok
|
Chevron-Ford |
% : The 1976 series was open to Formula Atlantic cars.[11]
+ : From 1983 to 1986 the Australian Drivers' Championship was contested by cars complying with Formula Mondial regulations.
References[]
- ^ Survival of the Swiftest, 1980 Australian Grand Prix Program, page 23
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Graham Howard, A backward look at Formula Pacific, 1982 Australian Grand Prix Program, page 51
- ^ New Zealand Formula Pacific series races Retrieved on 23 January 2010
- ^ Formula Mondial - Southern Pacific Zone, Australian Motor Racing Year 1983/94, pages 232-233
- ^ CAMS Manual of Motor Sport 1983, page 273
- ^ Japanese Formula Pacific Retrieved on 14 April 2021
- ^ Grand Prix Macau > MGP Archive > Chronology > Decades of History - The 70s Archived 2012-03-01 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 23 January 2010
- ^ Grand Prix Macau > MGP Archive > Chronology > Decades of History - The 80s Retrieved on 23 January 2010
- ^ Jump up to: a b c The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, 24 August 1981, page 21
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Bev Wright, O'Brien All the Way, Racing Car News, October 1982, pages 41 to 43
- ^ Lawrence's Rothmans title, Autosport, 6 January 1977, page 5
- Formula racing
- Motorsport categories in Australia