The 2004 Australian Formula 3 Championship kicks off at the prestigious Clipsal 500 event on the weekend of March 18 to 21 on the picturesque Adelaide Parkland circuit. Formula 3 will be on track all four days with practice on Thursday, qualifying on Friday and a race each on both Saturday and Sunday.

Following on from an exciting 2003 where both the Australian Formula 3 Championship and the Yokohama Trophy (for pre 1996 cars) were decided in the last race of the final round at Wakefield Park, F3 looks set to enjoy another thrilling season of open-wheel racing.

While some familiar faces have moved on from F3, they won't be entirely absent from the paddock in Adelaide. 2003 Australian Formula 3 Champion, Michael Caruso, is now driving for the Holden Young Lions team in the Konica Minolta V8 Supercar Series. Young Kiwi, James Cressey who spent 2002-03 in Australian Formula 3 finishing 3rd in the Championship in 2003 will also be seen around the streets of Adelaide in his VIP Pet Foods Racing Porsche GT3 in the Australian Carrera Cup. Meanwhile, Barton Mawer has had impressive tests in England over the summer while Christian Jones is heading overseas to compete in the Asian Formula 3 Championship in which he made a successful debut in the final round last year, taking two race wins from two starts.

2004 however will see some new faces and new cars on the grid at Adelaide, as well as those returning for another tilt at the Championship. Bob Johns who took Barton Mawer to an exciting second place in the 2003 Championship will run his car again for new driver, John Pettit, the 2003 NSW Formula Ford Champion.

Daniel Gaunt will make his Championship debut for BRM alongside experienced team mate Karl Reindler, who must be one of the favourites to take out the Championship this year. Gaunt, from New Zealand is the reigning F4000 champion and drove for Team BRM at the Lady Wigram Trophy in January, winning on his F3 debut. West Australian Reindler, was the F3 Rookie of the Year last year, and also won the prestigious AON/CAMS Rising Star Award. With the experience gained from a full season last year, he will be a very competitive driver this year and teamed with Gaunt will ensure that Team BRM are a force to be reckoned with in 2004.

Queensland Formula Ford star, Chris Gilmour, who impressed last season in the F3 drives he had with Scud Racing, is returning for a full assault at the Championship. Gilmour has bought his own car, an '01 Spiess Opel and will surely be one of the front runners in this year's Championship.

Another rising star, Ian Dyk who debuted impressively at Wakefield Park in the last round of the 2003 series, will undertake a full season's campaign with Astuti Competition in their new '01 Speiss Opel. Early season testing indicates that Dyk will be right up there in the battle for the Championship. Meanwhile, the driver for the second seat at Astuti Competition is yet to be announced. The car, a '96 Renault, will compete in the Yokohama Trophy Class.

Glenn Coombs' Aircon Racing has a new driver, Daniel Pappas, in their '01 Renault Sodemo, raced last year by Peter Hackett. Pappas joins F3 after spending 2003 competing in the Australian Formula Ford championship.

Piccola Scuderia Corse have their two '01 Dallara Alfa Romeo race cars entered for Adelaide, but drivers are yet to be announced. Team boss, Michael Masi is expecting another strong showing from the team this season.

Goulburn businessman, Michael Navybox who made his debut with Piccola Scuderia Corse in the last round at Wakefield Park in 2003, returns to F3 for 2004. Navybox will compete in the Yokohama Trophy Class, racing the '96 Fiat Novamotor campaigned successfully by Astuti Competition in the 2003 Yokohama Trophy.

West Australian, Aaron Caratti who joined the F3 ranks part way through last season, will be back for a concerted effort this year with Perth-based Race Torque International. Caratti will drive the '01 Renault he raced last year.

Bevan Carrick and his crew have been working hard to rebuild his car's engine over the summer. Carrick returns to racing this year in his '98 TOMS Toyota.

The Yokohama Trophy Class also went down to the wire last season with a three-way tie at the end of the last race. David Borg driving for Astuti Competition won the Class on a countback from Aircon Racing's Glenn Coombs and Scud Racing's Bill Maddocks. This year, Bill Maddocks, Graeme Holmes, Rod Anderson, Michael Navybox, Heath Eustace, Bevan Carrick, and John Boothman will fight for honours in the Yokohama Trophy, with other cars likely to join the competition during the year.

2004 Australian Formula 3 Championship Calendar