1971 Australian Drivers' Championship

[1] It was the fifteenth Australian Drivers' Championship[2] and the first to feature cars complying with a new for 1971 Australian Formula 1[3] which permitted cars with production based V8 engines of up to 5 litre capacity (commonly known as Formula 5000 cars) or racing engines of up to eight cylinders and up to 2 litre capacity.

[4] The championship winner was awarded the 1971 CAMS Gold Star and the title of Australian Champion Driver.

[1] The championship was won by Max Stewart from Kevin Bartlett, Alan Hamilton and John McCormack, with only two points separating first from fourth after the final race.

[1] Only holders of a General Competition License issued by CAMS were eligible to compete for the title.

[1] New Zealander Graeme Lawrence (Brabham BT30 Ford) placed second at Oran Park, but not being an Australian resident he did not qualify for championship points.