The1981 Australian Drivers' Championship was aCAMS sanctionedAustralian motor racing title open to racing cars complying withAustralian Formula 1.[1] It was the 25thAustralian Drivers' Championship.[2] The title winner,Alfredo Costanzo[3] was awarded the 1981 CAMS "Gold Star".[1]
The championship was contested over a two-round series.[3]
| Round[3] | Circuit[3] | Date[3] | Format[3] | Round winner[3] | Car[3] |
| 1 | Sandown Park | 22 February | One race | Alfredo Costanzo | McLaren M26Chevrolet |
| 2 | Amaroo Park | 12 July | Two heats | Alfredo Costanzo | McLaren M26Chevrolet |
Car competed in two classes:[1]
Championship points were awarded at each round on a 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis to the first six finishers in each class.[1] Additional points were awarded at each round on a 4-3-2-1 basis to the first four finishers outright, regardless of class.[1]
Where rounds were contested over more than one heat, round placings were determined by allocating points to the first 14 placegetters in each heat on a 20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis and then aggregating these points.[1] Where more than one driver earned the same number of points the relevant round placing was awarded to the driver who was higher placed in the last heat.[1]
| Position | Driver[5] | Car[3] | Class | Entrant[5] | San.[6] | Ama.[6] | Total |
| 1 | Alfredo Costanzo | McLaren M26Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Porsche Cars Australia | 13 | 13 | 26[7][8] |
| 2 | Ray Hanger | March 77BFord BDA[9] | Up to 1600cc[3] | Ray Hanger | 9 | 10 | 19[7] |
| 3 | Rob Butcher | Lola T332Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | John Blanden | 6 | 9 | 15[7] |
| 4 | John Bowe | Elfin MR9Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Ansett Team Elfin | 9 | - | 9 |
| 5 | Ivan Tighe | Chevron B37Chevrolet[10] | Over 1600cc | Ivan Tighe | - | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Peter Edwards | Lola T332Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Peter Edwards | 4 | - | 4 |
| 7 | Bob Minogue | Lola T430Chevrolet[10] | Over 1600cc | Bob Minogue | - | 3 | 3 |
| 8 | Colin Trengrove | Lola T332Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | Colin Trengrove | 2 | - | 2 |
| = | John Wright | Lola T400Chevrolet | Over 1600cc | John Wright | - | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | Peter Middleton[11] | Elfin MR8-CChevrolet[9] | Over 1600cc | Peter Middleton | 1 | - | 1 |
| = | Barry Singleton | Gardos BL1Repco Holden[10] | Over 1600cc | Barry Singleton | - | 1 | 1 |
The conditions for the 1981 championship were published byCAMS under the name "Australian Formula 1 Championship".[1] Australian Motor Racing Year 1981/82 uses both Australian Drivers Championship and Australian Formula One Championship in its review of the series.[3] Racing Car News, January 1982 uses Australian Drivers Championship.[5]CAMS uses Australian Drivers' Championship in its historical records[2] and that has been followed here.
