1980 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX - Calder Raceway

A wonderful piece of history from 1980 featuring F1 World Champion Alan Jones. All credit Channel 9 Sport, commentators Jackie Stewart & Ken Sparkes. Also features some commentary from Peter Brock. Enjoy. Open wheel racing and motorsport in general was in serious decline in Australia in 1980 with most domestic motor racing grids in sharp decline. Early in the season it was announced that the 1980 Australian Drivers’ Championship technical regulations, then known as Australian Formula 1, but was essentially Formula 5000, would be expanded to allow for a more diverse array of machinery. The previous year Formula Pacific, the regional name for the Formula Atlantic category had already been allowed to enter, but the relative small cars were not a close match to the considerably more powerful Formula 5000 cars. The addition was to allow Formula One cars, like those competing in the World Drivers Championship, or more optimistically second-hand cars like those in the British AFX Aurora series. The move however onl