New Zealand Formula Pacific 1981

There were only three rounds of the Aurora AFX Formula Pacific Championship in 1980/81, but unfortunately just as many overlapping championships to thoroughly confuse the competitors, journalists, and historians. The opening round was also the opening round of the Union Travel series, the "premier open-wheeler championship for New Zealand drivers", in other words the old Gold Star series, and two of the races were also rounds of the FISA Pacific Region championship, which had previously involved races in Japan, Macau and Malaysia.

All three races were in two heats, or two "divisions", as New Zealand governing body MANZ preferred it, and there was also a pair of races at Manfeild which were "non-championship" in that they did not count towards the Aurora or FISA series, but they were part of the Union Travel national series. Having decided to separate each race into two parts, MANZ then decided they still needed to be able to declare a winner of the New Zealand GP, so came up with a points system with which to combine the two "divisions". Dave McMillan had won one part of the Grand Prix, and Steve Millen the other, so McMillan was declared as the GP winner. Millen won both parts at Baypark Raceway, and David Oxton won both parts at Wigram. Oxton had been second to Millen at Baypark, and second in the Grand Prix thanks to the way it was scored, so he was declared the overall champion of the Aurora series.

The races

28 Dec 1980 > Baypark Raceway

28 Dec 1980 > Baypark Raceway

10 Jan 1981 > Pukekohe

25 Jan 1981 > Wigram

25 Jan 1981 > Wigram

1980-1981 Aurora AFX International Formula Pacific Championship table

Previous: the 1980 season

Next: the 1982 season

1980-1981 Union Travel Formula Pacific series (MANZ Gold Star)

David Oxton also won the 1980-81 Gold Star series.

The races

18 Jan 1981 > Manfeild

18 Jan 1981 > Manfeild

01 Feb 1981 > Timaru (Levels)

01 Feb 1981 > Timaru (Levels)

08 Mar 1981 > Pukekohe

08 Mar 1981 > Pukekohe

1981 Union Travel Formula Pacific Championship (MANZ Gold Star) table

1980-1981 FISA Pacific Region Championship

FISA also created a championship for 1981 for the Pacific Region, but no competitors followed it. It had more rounds in New Zealand than anywhere else so David Oxton won it, making a clean sweep.

The races

03 Nov 1980 > Suzuka

16 Nov 1980 > Macau Grand Prix

30 Nov 1980 > Selangor Grand Prix at Shah Alam

10 Jan 1981 > Pukekohe

25 Jan 1981 > Wigram

25 Jan 1981 > Wigram

1980-1981 FISA Pacific Region Championship table