Aussie Racing Cars

Category	Silhouette racing car
Country	Australia
Inaugural season	2001
Engine suppliers	Yamaha FJR1300
Tyre suppliers	Kumho Tires
Drivers' champion	Joel Heinrich
Official website	Official website of Aussie Racing Cars
Current season

Aussie Racing Cars (ARC), currently known as theBattery World Aussie Racing Cars under sponsorship,^[1] is an Australianauto racing category. ARC is a motorcycle poweredsilhouette racing car class created by formertouring car racing driver Phil Ward and influenced by theAmerican Legends category. Aussie Racing Cars was developed as a Major National Category supporting theV8 Supercars under an exclusive Category Management Agreement (CMA) with the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS).

Initially, the cars were based on caricatures of 1940 Ford Coupe andFJ Holden body styles. In 2007, a new era of Aussie Race Car emerged with the design and launch of theToyota Aurion bodied Aussie Race Car. This new car extended the wheelbase and track on the first generation cars improving performance significantly. Respected design engineer Russell Mapplebeck led the engineering project alongside James Ward and Blake Hammond. The process to design and build the first "New Age" Aussie Race Car paved the way for future body models, also designed by Mapplebeck, based on theMercedes-Benz,Holden Cruze, and later theCamaro andMustang.^{[citation needed]}

The category contests an annual Aussie Racing Car Series which is approved by theConfederation of Australian Motor Sport as a National Series.^[2] Over its 20-year history the category has supported the biggest motorsports events in Australia including theAdelaide 500,Gold Coast Indy 300,F1 Australian Grand Prix andBathurst 1000.^{[citation needed]}

TheHampton Downs round of the 2016 season hosted the inaugural Trans-Tasman Women's Challenge. Charlotte Poynting was chosen to represent Team Australian, and was up against Alyssa Clapperton of Team New Zealand. In Race 3 Poynting, who started 9th on the grid, raced through the field to win by 2.5 seconds, becoming the first ever woman to win a race in the Aussie Racing Cars category.^{[citation needed]}

AHolden VY Commodore-bodied Aussie Racing Car.

AToyota Aurion-bodied Aussie Racing Car.

A "Euro GT"-bodied Aussie Racing Car.

AHolden Cruze-bodied Aussie Racing Car.

AChevrolet Camaro-bodied Aussie Racing Car.

The Aussie Racing Car combines current racing technology and performance in a one-design class where all cars are mechanically identical with strict rules in place to maintain that position. Various body styles are permitted. Originally only1940 Ford Coupé andHolden FJ body styles were available, withFord AU Falcon andHolden VY Commodore styles, which replicateV8 Supercars, later made available. AToyota Aurion body shape was launched in 2008,^[3] followed by aHolden Cruze in 2012^[4] and a Mercedes-Benz inspired "Euro GT" in 2013.^[5]Nissan Altima,^[6]Ford Mustang,^[7] andChevrolet Camaro were added in 2014.^[7]Hyundai Elantra debuted during the 2015 series.^[8]

Cars are constructed on a purpose-built steel tubular space frame chassis with integralroll cage construction designed and approved to stringent engineering specifications. The lightweight composite body is a designed caricature of its full-size counterpart featuring opening doors, boot and lift off front section. Powered by a 1.3L 125 bhp (93 kW)twin cam 16 valve engine sourced second-hand from used Yamaha FJR1300 motorcycles that revs to 11500 rpm. The 515 kg all up weight provides a highpower-to-weight ratio that allows the car to reach speeds in excess of 200 km/h. Lap times achieved atOran Park Raceway are within six seconds of aV8 Supercar. They feature fully adjustable suspension geometry, performance brakes and controlled competition tyres that produce high grip levels. All cars are hand built in the ARC facility and supplied ready to race.^[9]

The cockpit layout is purpose built and fitted with a five-point racing harness. The steering requires only one turnlock-to-lock and minimal steering movement during racing. The sequential gear lever is close to the steering wheel and the carbon fibre dash displays the necessary instrumentation. The chassis design incorporates simplicity in suspension adjustment to cater for all drivers' preferences including castor/camber, sway bar, roll centre and ride height etc. Brakes have front to rear bias adjustment.^[9]

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• Italics: 2020 and 2021 are unofficial, as no official championship was awarded because of an insufficient number of rounds held because of pandemic restrictions. Only theBathurst 12 Hour round of three races was held in 2020, and only three of a planned six rounds (nine races conducted) were held in 2021. Drivers listed led points at curtailment of seasons.

• Adelaide Street Circuit (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016–2017, 2019, 2025)
• Albert Park Circuit (2007–2009)
• Baskerville Raceway (2006, 2018)
• Hampton Downs Motorsport Park (2016)
• Hidden Valley Raceway (2006, 2010, 2015–2016, 2019, 2023)
• Highlands Motorsport Park (2015, 2023)
• Homebush Street Circuit (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)
• Morgan Park Raceway (2010)
• Mount Panorama Circuit (2006–2007, 2011–2012, 2014–2015, 2020–2022, 2024, 2026)
• Newcastle Street Circuit (2017, 2019, 2023)
• One Raceway (2003, 2005, 2008, 2022)
• Oran Park Raceway (2001–2009)
• Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (2010–2012, 2014–2016, 2018, 2024)
• Queensland Raceway (2002–2005, 2010–2011, 2013–2014, 2016, 2018–2019, 2023–2024, 2026)
• Reid Park Street Circuit (2012, 2017, 2023–2024, 2026)
• Sandown Raceway (2003–2007, 2022, 2025)
• Surfers Paradise Street Circuit (2005–2009, 2012–2014, 2017–2019, 2024–present)
• Sydney Motorsport Park (2003–2005, 2007–2010, 2012, 2015–2018, 2021–2022, 2025)
• Symmons Plains Raceway (2005, 2008, 2011, 2013–2015, 2017, 2019, 2021–present)
• The Bend Motorsport Park (2018–2019, 2022, 2025–present)
• Wanneroo Raceway (2014, 2017, 2024–2025)
• Winton Motor Raceway (2001–2004, 2008–2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2022)

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• Motorsport categories in Australia
• Aussie Racing Cars

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