Australian Formula 2

Initially the new format proved to be very successful, attracting the largest grids seen in Australian formula racing for years.

For a brief period when Formula 5000 was in its final death throes, AF2 was arguably (but not officially) Australia's top class of racing car.

Throughout the 1980s AF2 remained an extremely popular and competitive category and the Australian Drivers' Championship was contested with Formula 2 cars in both 1987 and 1988.

[4] The engine capacity was raised to 1600cc in 1969,[5] AF2 thus replacing the discontinued Australian 1½ Litre Formula as the country's second tier single seater category.

[9] The 1974 championship, which enjoyed significant sponsorship from the Van Heusen Shirt Company, was run as a totally stand alone series.

[10] The declining state of the category saw the 1977 championship downgraded to a single race affair and new regulations were announced to take effect in 1978.

The engines were to be limited to 1600cc production based units with valve actuation by single overhead camshaft or pushrods.

[13] The decline of Australia's premier open wheel category, Formula Mondial, saw the Australian Drivers' Championship move from that category to AF2 in the same year, with the title awarded to the winner of the Australia Cup, an AF2 race held in support of the 1987 Australian Grand Prix at the Adelaide Street Circuit.

[15] The 1988 AF2C title was to be the last awarded by CAMS[4] and the Australian Drivers' Championship was to be determined over a series of races for the new Formula Holden category for 1989.

Popular engines include the pushrod hemi headed Toyota 2T, the crossflow Ford Kent, and Holden Gemini, but the most common is the Volkswagen Golf.

Power levels approaching 200 horsepower (150 kW) combined with a racing weight of only 510 to 530 kg, provide a power-to-weight ratio similar to a V8 Supercar.

CAMS recognition of the Australian Formula 2 Championship as a national title did not extend beyond 1988 Arbyen, Argus, ASP, Avanti, B.A.E., Birrana, Bowin, CBS, Cheetah, Crabtree, CRD, Elfin, Fielding, Hardman, HTG, Kaditcha, Liston, Macon, Mantis, Mildren, PBS, Rennmax, Richards, SAM, Sirch, Wren.

Brabham, Chevron, Dallara, Lola, Lotus, Magnum, March, McLaren, Ralt, Reynard, Tiga, Van Diemen John Bowe, Peter Brock, Alfredo Costanzo, Glenn Seton, Andrew Miedecke.