# 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship

The 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title which was contested concurrently with the 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship. The championship winner was awarded the 2008 CAMS Gold Star. The 2008 championship was the 52nd Australian Drivers' Championship and the fourth to be contested with open wheel racing cars constructed in accordance with FIA Formula 3 regulations. The season began on 3 February 2008 at Eastern Creek Raceway and finished on 21 September at Symmons Plains Raceway after eight rounds across four different states with two races per round.
The series was won by a British driver for the second time in three years, with James Winslow victorious after a season long battle with Leanne Tander, who was runner up by only a few points for the second year in a row. Chris Gilmour won the National Class from Irish driver Lee Farrell, while Andrew Mill clinched the Trophy Class with a round in hand.

## Class structure

Drivers competed in three classes:
* Championship Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2007
* National Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2004
* Trophy Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2001

## Points system

Championship points were awarded on a 20–15–12–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top ten classified finishers in the Championship Class in each race. An additional point was awarded to the driver gaining the Championship Class pole position for each race and a further additional point was awarded to the driver setting the fastest lap in the Championship class in each race. To secure the "fastest lap" point the driver must have been declared finisher for that race.
The same point-score system was also used for both the National Class and the Trophy Class.

## Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed during the 2008 Australian Formula 3 season. The listing relates to both the 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship and to the non-championship Indy F3 Challenge races.
| Team | Class | Chassis | Engine | No | Driver |
| Scud Racing | National | Dallara F301 | Spiess-Opel | 1 | Tim Macrow |
| Scud Racing | Trophy | Dallara F301 | Spiess-Opel | 25 | Justin Tate Roman Krumins |
| Scud Racing | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 35 | Stuart Kostera |
| Scud Racing | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 89 | Mathew Radisich |
| Team BRM | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 1 | James Winslow |
| Team BRM | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 3 | James Winslow John Magro Chris Alajajian Zahir Ali * |
| Team BRM | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 4 | Earl Bamber Nick Percat James Winslow |
| Team BRM | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 5 | Nathan Caratti |
| Team BRM | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 6 | Lee Farrell |
| Team BRM | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 9 | Ben Clucas |
| Transwest Racing | Championship | Dallara F307 | Mugen-Honda | 2 | Mat Sofi |
| Transwest Racing | National | Dallara F304 | Mugen-Honda | 20 | James Crozier |
| R-Tek Motorsport Services | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 7 | Chris Reindler Karl Reindler Carlos Huertas * |
| R-Tek Motorsport Services | Trophy | Dallara F301 | Spiess-Opel | 59 | Jesse Wakeman |
| Astuti Motorsport | Championship | Dallara F307 | Sodemo-Renault | 11 | James Winslow Maher Algadrie Chris Alajajian |
| Astuti Motorsport | Championship | Dallara F304 | Sodemo-Renault | 23 | Ray Chamberlain |
| Astuti Motorsport | National | Dallara F304 | Sodemo-Renault | 24 | Daniel Schulz Ash Samadi Andrew Mill |
| JB Motorsport | Trophy | Dallara F301 | Novamotor-Fiat | 12 | John Boothman Brian Sampson |
| Property Solutions Group | Trophy | Dallara F301 | Spiess-Opel | 16 | Andrew Mill Kevin Miller |
| Property Solutions Group | Trophy | Dallara F301 | Sodemo-Renault | 86 | Kevin Miller |
| Gilmour Racing | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 17 | Chris Gilmour |
| Morcraft Homes | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 18 | Steve Morcombe |
| David Choon | Trophy | Dallara F396 | Mugen Honda | 19 | David Choon |
| GKH Powdercoating | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 21 | Graeme Holmes |
| Chris Alajajian | Championship | Dallara F304 | Sodemo-Renault | 22 | Chris Alajajian |
| Piccola Scuderia Corse | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 26 | Daniel Cotton Troy Woodger John Whelan Justin Tate |
| Piccola Scuderia Corse | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 27 | Neil McFadyen Justin Tate John Martin * |
| Piccola Scuderia Corse | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 28 | Ash Bettridge |
| Tandersport | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 32 | Matthew Radisich |
| Tandersport | Championship | Dallara F307 | HWA-Mercedes-Benz | 42 | Leanne Tander |
| Tandersport | National | Dallara F304 | Spiess-Opel | 52 | Chris Reindler Samantha Reid Ben Crighton |
| National Surgical | Trophy | Dallara F301 | | 32 | Jon Mills |
| Hack, Anderson & Thomas | Trophy | Dallara F396 | Toyota | 37 | Rod Anderson |
| Ausdeck Patios & Roofing | Trophy | Dallara F301 | | 96 | Jonathan Grant * |
'* - John Martin, Zahir Ali, Carlos Huertas & Jonathan Grant contested the non-championship Indy F3 Challenge races but did not contest rounds of the 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship.

## Race calendar

| Round | Race | Circuit | Date | Pole position | Fastest lap | Winning driver | Winning team |
| 1 | 1 | Eastern Creek Raceway | 3 February | Leanne Tander | Neil McFadyen | Nathan Caratti | Team BRM |
| 1 | 2 | Eastern Creek Raceway | 3 February | Nathan Caratti | race cancelled by heavy rain | race cancelled by heavy rain | race cancelled by heavy rain |
| 2 | 1 | Adelaide Street Circuit | 24 February | Neil McFadyen | Earl Bamber | Neil McFadyen | Piccola Scuderia Corse |
| 2 | 2 | Adelaide Street Circuit | 24 February | Neil McFadyen | Ben Clucas | Ben Clucas | Team BRM |
| 3 | 1 | Oran Park Raceway | 27 April | Neil McFadyen | Leanne Tander | Leanne Tander | Tandersport |
| 3 | 2 | Oran Park Raceway | 27 April | Neil McFadyen | Nathan Caratti | James Winslow | Astuti Motorsport |
| 4 | 1 | Mallala Motor Sport Park | 18 May | Leanne Tander | Nathan Caratti | Leanne Tander | Tandersport |
| 4 | 2 | Mallala Motor Sport Park | 18 May | Neil McFadyen | Leanne Tander | Nathan Caratti | Team BRM |
| 5 | 1 | Phillip Island | 15 June | Leanne Tander | Mat Sofi | Nathan Caratti | Team BRM |
| 5 | 2 | Phillip Island | 15 June | James Winslow | Leanne Tander | James Winslow | Team BRM |
| 6 | 1 | Eastern Creek Raceway | 13 July | Nathan Caratti | James Winslow | Leanne Tander | Tandersport |
| 6 | 2 | Eastern Creek Raceway | 13 July | Nathan Caratti | Nathan Caratti | James Winslow | Team BRM |
| 7 | 1 | Phillip Island | 10 August | Leanne Tander | James Winslow | James Winslow | Team BRM |
| 7 | 2 | Phillip Island | 10 August | James Winslow | James Winslow | Leanne Tander | Tandersport |
| 8 | 1 | Symmons Plains Raceway | 21 September | Mathew Radisich | James Winslow | James Winslow | Team BRM |
| 8 | 2 | Tasmanian Super Prix | 21 September | James Winslow | Nathan Caratti | Leanne Tander | Tandersport |
| NC | 1 | Indy F3 Challenge | 23 October | John Martin | John Martin | John Martin | Piccola Scuderia Corse |
| NC | 2 | Indy F3 Challenge | 24 October | progressive grid | John Martin | John Martin | Piccola Scuderia Corse |
| NC | 3 | Indy F3 Challenge | 25 October | progressive grid | John Martin | James Winslow | Team BRM |

## Results and standings
### Drivers championship

| Pos | Driver | EAS 1 | ADE 1 | ADE 2 | ORA 1 | ORA 2 | MAL 1 | MAL 2 | PHI 1 | PHI 2 | EAS 3 | EAS 4 | PHI 3 | PHI 4 | SYM 1 | SYM 2 | Pts |
| CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | James Winslow | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Ret | 198 |
| 2 | Leanne Tander | 3 | 6 | Ret | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 194 |
| 3 | Nathan Caratti | 1 | 5 | Ret | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 12 | Ret | 15 | 10 | 2 | 170 |
| 4 | Mat Sofi | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 136 |
| 5 | Neil McFadyen | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 3 | DSQ | 4 | | | | | | | 99 |
| 6 | Stuart Kostera | 7 | 8 | 4 | Ret | 11 | Ret | 7 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 5 | Ret | 4 | 2 | 5 | 92 |
| 7 | Ray Chamberlain | 19 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 64 |
| 8 | Nick Percat | | | | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | 38 |
| 9 | Justin Tate | | | | | | | | | | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | 37 |
| 10 | Ben Clucas | | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36 |
| 10 | John Magro | | | | | | 11 | 9 | 14 | 8 | | | 4 | 5 | | | 36 |
| 12 | Chris Alajajian | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 3 | | | | | 27 |
| 13 | Earl Bamber | 4 | 3 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 |
| 14 | Steve Morcombe | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | | | 13 |
| 15 | Maher Algadrie | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | 12 | | | 5 |
| NATIONAL CLASS |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Chris Gilmour | 9 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 228 |
| 2 | Lee Farrell | 8 | 9 | 17 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 7 | Ret | 6 | 189 |
| 3 | Tim Macrow | | | | | | | | Ret | Ret | 7 | 4 | | | 3 | 3 | 89 |
| 4 | Ben Crighton | | | | 9 | 9 | | | Ret | Ret | 8 | 14 | 7 | Ret | 8 | 7 | 86 |
| 5 | Mathew Radisich | 11 | 12 | 8 | DNS | DNS | | | 8 | 9 | 17 | 9 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 10 | 85 |
| 6 | Ash Bettridge | | | | | | | | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | Ret | 12 | | | 48 |
| 7 | Karl Reindler | | | | | | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 43 |
| 8 | Daniel Schulz | 12 | 10 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 39 |
| 9 | Justin Tate | | | | | | 8 | 11 | Ret | DNS | | | | | | | 24 |
| 10 | Ash Samadhi | | | | Ret | 8 | Ret | 13 | Ret | DNS | | | | | | | 23 |
| 11 | Chris Reindler | 10 | 21 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 |
| 12 | Samantha Reid | | 20 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 |
| 13 | James Crozier | 13 | 23 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 |
| 14 | Andrew Mill | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Ret | 15 |
| 15 | John Whelan | | | | 10 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | 12 |
| 16 | Graeme Holmes | 15 | 15 | Ret | DNS | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | 12 |
| 17 | Daniel Cotton | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 18 | Troy Woodger | | 22 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| TROPHY CLASS |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Andrew Mill | 14 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | Ret | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | | | 247 |
| 2 | Jesse Wakeman | 16 | 16 | 16 | DNS | DNS | 13 | 14 | 9 | 11 | | | | | 9 | 11 | 157 |
| 3 | Rod Anderson | 20 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 15 | DNS | 13 | 16 | 15 | 17 | | | 11 | 12 | 156 |
| 4 | Justin Tate | 21 | 14 | 9 | Ret | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | 46 |
| 5 | John Boothman | 18 | 19 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30 |
| 5 | Roman Krumins | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 13 | | | 30 |
| 7 | Brian Sampson | | | | | | | | 12 | 15 | | | | | | | 28 |
| 8 | David Choon | | | | 13 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | 12 |
| NC | Kevin Miller | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Retired (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Red | Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Withdrew (WD) |
| White | Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
| Blank | Excluded (EX) |
Note: Race 2 of Round 1 was abandoned due to torrential rain and no points were awarded.

### Indy F3 Challenge

The Indy F3 Challenge was a three race support event for Australian Formula 3 cars at the 2008 Nikon Indy 300 meeting at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. It was not a round of the 2008 Australian Drivers' Championship.
| Pos. | Driver | Qualifying | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Points |
| 1 | John Martin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 59 |
| 2 | James Winslow | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 50 |
| 3 | Leanne Tander | 5 | 4 | 3 | Ret | 22 |
| 4 | Chris Alajajian | 3 | 3 | 4 | Ret | 22 |
| 5 | Mat Sofi | 6 | Ret | 7 | 3 | 16 |
| 6 | Chris Gilmour | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 16 |
| 7 | Nathan Caratti | 4 | 5 | 5 | Ret | 16 |
| 8 | Jesse Wakeman | 11 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 10 |
| 9 | Zahir Ali | 9 | 7 | 6 | Ret | 10 |
| 10 | Steve Morcombe | 13 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 6 |
| 11 | Carlos Huertas | 7 | 6 | Ret | Ret | 6 |
| 12 | Jonathan Grant | 12 | Ret | 12 | 7 | 4 |
| 13 | Ben Crighton | 10 | 9 | 9 | Ret | 4 |
| 14 | Jon Mills | 15 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 3 |
| 15 | Kevin Miller | 14 | Ret | 13 | Ret | 0 |