2003 Australian Drivers' Championship
# 2003 Australian Drivers' Championship

The 2003 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Formula 4000 regulations. The title was contested over a six-round, twelve race series which was promoted as the 2003 Holden Australian Drivers' Championship for the CAMS Gold Star. It was the 47th Australian Drivers' Championship.

New Zealander Daniel Gaunt won the championship driving three different Reynards for two different teams over the course of the season. Gaunt only won two of the twelve races but achieved a race finishing consistency his rivals lacked and finished eight points ahead of his nearest rivals. Second place was tied between Jonny Reid and Paul Trengove, both driving Reynards.

Apart from the seven wins claimed by Gaunt and Reid, three wins were taken by another New Zealander, Nelson Hartley (Reynard 94D & Reynard 97D), and two wins by Ricky Occhipinti (Reynard 97D and 98D).

## Race calendar

The 2003 Australian Drivers' Championship was contested over a six-round series with two races per round.

| Round | Round | Circuit | Date | Pole position | Fastest lap | Winning driver | Winning team |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | R1 | Wakefield Park Raceway Goulburn, New South Wales | 21–23 February | Akihiro Asai | Jonny Reid | Ricky Occhipinti | Hocking Motorsport |
| 1 | R2 | Wakefield Park Raceway Goulburn, New South Wales | 21–23 February | | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Ralt Australia |
| 2 | R1 | Winton Motor Raceway (Benalla, Victoria) | 23–25 May | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Ricky Occhipinti | Hocking Motorsport |
| 2 | R2 | Winton Motor Raceway (Benalla, Victoria) | 23–25 May | | Ricky Occhipinti | Nelson Hartley | Hocking Motorsport |
| 3 | R1 | Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (Phillip Island, Victoria) | 4–6 July | Ricky Occhipinti | Nelson Hartley | Nelson Hartley | Hocking Motorsport |
| 3 | R2 | Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (Phillip Island, Victoria) | 4–6 July | | Daniel Gaunt | Nelson Hartley | Hocking Motorsport |
| 4 | R1 | Winton Motor Raceway (Benalla, Victoria) | 1–3 August | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Ralt Australia |
| 4 | R2 | Winton Motor Raceway (Benalla, Victoria) | 1–3 August | | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Ralt Australia |
| 5 | R1 | Mallala Motor Sport Park (Mallala, South Australia) | 29–31 August | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Daniel Gaunt | Ralt Australia |
| 5 | R2 | Mallala Motor Sport Park (Mallala, South Australia) | 29–31 August | | Paul Trengove | Daniel Gaunt | Ralt Australia |
| 6 | R1 | Eastern Creek International Raceway (Eastern Creek, New South Wales) | 28–30 November | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Ralt Australia |
| 6 | R2 | Eastern Creek International Raceway (Eastern Creek, New South Wales) | 28–30 November | | Jonny Reid | Jonny Reid | Ralt Australia |

## Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 20–15–12–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 basis for the first ten positions in each race.

The round winner for each round was determined by the aggregation of championship points awarded in that round. Where more than one driver had been awarded equal points, the round result was determined by the placings in Race 2.

## Results

| | | | | | Wakefield Park | Wakefield Park | Winton | Winton | Phillip Island | Phillip Island | Winton | Winton | Mallala | Mallala | Eastern Creek | Eastern Creek | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Position | Driver | No | Car | Entrant | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 1 | Race 2 | Total |
| 1 | Daniel Gaunt | 69 & 12 | Reynard 92D, 96D & 94D Holden | Pure Power Racing & Ralt Australia | 8 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 15 | - | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 140 |
| 2 | Jonny Reid | 12 | Reynard 96D Holden | Ralt Australia | 12 | 20 | - | - | 10 | - | 20 | 20 | 10 | - | 20 | 20 | 132 |
| 2 | Paul Trengove | 34 | Reynard 95D Holden | CPA Australia | - | - | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 132 |
| 4 | Ricky Occhipinti | 32 | Reynard 97D & 98D Holden | Formula Uno Racing | 20 | 12 | 20 | 8 | - | - | 10 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 125 |
| 5 | Nelson Hartley | 11 & 75 | Reynard 94D & 97D Holden | Ralt Australia & Hocking Motorsport | 15 | 15 | 8 | 20 | 20 | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 104 |
| 6 | Ian Peters | 24 | Reynard 91D Holden | EDS | 10 | 6 | 4 | 6 | - | 6 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 71 |
| 7 | Terry Clearihan | 27 | Reynard 92D Holden | National Neon Signs Canberra | 6 | - | 10 | - | 15 | 10 | - | 6 | - | 10 | 6 | - | 63 |
| 8 | Rohan Carrig | 49 | Reynard 92D Holden | Arlec / CRD Motorsport | - | 4 | - | 4 | 6 | 8 | - | - | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 39 |
| 9 | Mikel Miller | 75 | Reynard 97D Holden | Hocking Motorsport | - | 10 | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 22 |
| 10 | Darren Hossack | 74 | Reynard Holden | Hocking Motorsport | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 10 | - | - | - | - | 18 |
| 11 | Michael Caruso | 11 | Reynard Holden | Ralt Australia | - | - | - | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 |
| 12 | Michael Joannou | 17 | Reynard 96D Holden | Mantis Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 13 | Peter Hill | 4 | Reynard 94D Holden | Greg Murphy Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| 14 | Mark Ellis | 17 | Reynard Holden | Mantis Racing | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 7 |
| 15 | Ken Smith | 11 | Reynard 97D Holden | Ralt Australia | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 |

Note: All cars were required to be fitted with a 3.8-litre Holden V6 engine.

### Silver Star

| Position | Driver | No | Car | Entrant | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Ian Peters | 24 | Reynard 91D Holden | EDS | 197 |
| 2 | Terry Clearihan | 27 | Reynard 92D Holden | National Neon Signs Canberra | 125 |
| 3 | Rohan Carrig | 49 | Reynard 92D Holden | Arlec / CRD Motorsport | 117 |

Note: Approved competitors were awarded points towards a Silver Star Trophy based on their finishing positions in each race relative to other such nominated competitors. These points had no reflection on the Australian Drivers' Championship classification.

### Yokohama Rookie of the Year Award

The Yokohama Rookie of the Year Award was won by Daniel Gaunt. The award was open to drivers who had contested less than two races for the Australian Drivers' Championship since 1989.

