Formula Mondial was an international motor racing category which was introduced to replace bothFormula Atlantic and the similarFormula Pacific[1] in 1983.[2]
The regulations specified a single-seat, open-wheeled chassis[1] with a flat bottom, thus excluding anyground effects designs.[2] Engines had to be 1.6-litre four-cylinder units sourced from a production touring car[1] although only theFord Cosworth BDA engine was actually homologated for the category.[3][4]
TheFIA World Cup Commission issued regulations for the staging of various zone competitions throughout the world with competitors intended to come together for a World Cup final.[1] The Southern Pacific Zone series was staged in New Zealand and Australia in early 1983 and was won by AustralianCharlie O’Brien[5] and the Formula Mondial North American Cup series was won by AmericanMichael Andretti.[6] However the World Cup finals series, which was to have been contested over four races inQuebec, Canada in September 1983 was cancelled the month before it was due to be run.[5]
Although embraced at a national level by Australia[7] and New Zealand,[8] Formula Mondial was not taken up as expected in the South East Asia region—whereFormula Two was adopted—or by the United Kingdom, which favouredFormula Three.[5] It was abandoned in the United States and Canada.[9] and ceased to be an International Formula from the end of 1984. The category largely died out in Australia after 1986, withAustralian Formula 2 taking over as the top open wheel series for two years until the advent ofFormula Holden in 1989.[10]