The 1980 TAA Formula Ford Driver to Europe Series was an Australian motor racing competition for Formula Ford racing cars. The series, which was the eleventh Australian Formula Ford Series, was won by Stephen Brook driving a Lola T440.
Series schedule
The series was contested over eight rounds with one race per round.
| Round | Circuit | Date | Winning driver | Car |
| 1 | Sandown | 24 February | Stephen Brook | Lola T440 |
| 2 | Calder | 16 March | Stephen Brook | Lola T440 |
| 3 | Amaroo Park | 6 April | Wal Storey | Elwyn 002 |
| 4 | Adelaide | 1 June | Stephen Brook | Lola T440 |
| 5 | Oran Park | Stephen Brook | Lola T440 | |
| 6 | Lakeside | Stephen Brook | Lola T440 | |
| 7 | Amaroo Park | 10 August | Stephen Brook | Lola T440 |
| 8 | Sandown | 14 September | Warren Smith | Bowin P4A |
Points system
Points were awarded on a 20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis for the first ten places at each round.
Series standings
| Position | Driver | Car | Entrant | San | Cal | Ama | Ade | Ora | Lak | Ama | San | Total |
| 1 | Stephen Brook | Lola T440 | Bob Holden | 20 | 20 | 12 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | - | 132 |
| 2 | Warren Smith | Bowin P4A | W. Smith | - | 10 | 8 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 20 | 80 |
| 3 | David Earle | Elfin Aero | Thomson Motor Auctions | 10 | 6 | 10 | 8 | - | 12 | 10 | 10 | 66 |
| 4 | Ron Barnacle | Van Diemen | Dissaico Garge Equipment | 6 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 55 |
| 5 | Robyn Hamilton | Elfin 620B | Charlie | 1 | 15 | 15 | 12 | - | - | - | - | 43 |
| 6 | Graeme Wilson | Elfin 600 | G. Wilson | 15 | 12 | - | 10 | - | - | - | - | 37 |
| 7 | Jeff Summers | Elfin 620B | J. Summers | - | 8 | - | - | 4 | 8 | - | - | 20 |
| = | Wally Storey | Elwyn 002 | - | - | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | |
| 9 | Garry Tully | Elfin 620B | G. Tully | - | - | 1 | - | - | 15 | 3 | - | 19 |
| 10 | Jeff Besnard | Mawer 004 | Classic Trailers P/L | - | - | - | - | 15 | - | - | - | 15 |
| = | Jeff Walters | Bowin P4A | J. Walters | - | - | - | - | - | - | 15 | - | 15 |
| = | Ian Grainger | Bowin P4A | S. Brook | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 15 | 15 |
| 13 | Terry Spears | Bowin P4A | 12 | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | |
| 14 | Alan Bisset | Bowin | A. Bisset | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 15 | Robert Simpson | Elfin | R. Simpson | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | 6 | - | 12 |
| = | Kim Jones | Elfin 620B | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 12 | |
| 17 | Geoff Howat | Bowin P4A | G. Howat | 3 | 3 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 10 |
| = | Rex Broadbent | Wren | R. Broadbent | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | 8 | 10 |
| 19 | Gos Cory | Elfin | G. Cory | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| 20 | Graham Smith | Bowin P4A | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | - | - | 8 | |
| 21 | Alan Whitchurch | Bowin | D. Wilkins | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | 6 |
| 22 | Tony Boot | Elfin | T. Boot | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| 23 | Gary Batten | Bowin | G. Batten | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 |
| = | Michael Truman | Royale | Michael Truman | - | - | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 4 |
| = | Don Greig | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | 4 | ||
| = | Peter Ainscough | Elfin | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | 4 |
Note: All cars were powered by mandatory 1600cc Ford four cylinder engines.
References
- ^ Official Souvenir Programme, Adelaide International Raceway, Sunday 1 June 1980
- Australian 'Driver to Europe' Series, www.formulaford.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
- ^ TAA Driver-to-Europe Series, Australian Motor Racing Yearbook 1980/81, pages 228-231
- ^ Official Programme, CRC Chemicals 300, Amaroo Park Raceway, 10 August 1980
- ^ Raceday Competition Communicator, Sandown, 13–14 September 1980, page 51
- ^ 1980 TAA FORMULA FORD - "DRIVER TO EUROPE" SERIES, www.formulaford.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org