Australian Formula Open returned for its second season back in February. The fourth round is set to start this weekend at The Bend. As the season reaches its halfway point, Feeder Series tells you what you need to know about the country’s current highest-level open-wheel category. 

By Kaylene Lau

Created by Tim Macrow as a successor to Australian F3, Australian Formula Open is an open multi-class series – one of few such championships that remain in the single-seater racing landscape following the S5000 series being halted indefinitely at the beginning of the year. 

The series is separated into AFO1, AFO2, AFO3 and AFO4 classes. AFO1 consists of F3 cars pursuant to F3 regulations between 2002 and 2012, whilst AFO2 consists of cars that would have raced in the Toyota Racing Series, Formula BMW, Formula Renault and Formula Ford categories. AFO3 is reserved for invitational entries, and AFO4 consists of all F4 cars. 

Last season, Trent Grubel took the overall championship title along with the AFO1 title. Matthew Roesler took the AFO2 championship title, and Kristian Janev took the AFO4 title. 

The season started with the first round at Sandown Raceway, with Miles Bromley winning races one and two, while Kyle Evans won race three. 

The second round took place at Winton Motor Raceway, with Bromley once again winning both races one and two. Ryan MacMillan won race three. 

Round three, taking place at the Sydney Motorsport Park, saw MacMillan win races one and two, while Bromley won race three. 

Driver line-ups are subject to change as the season progresses. This article is updated as of round three at The Bend.

The calendar

There are seven rounds taking place this season, one more round than the previous season. The round at the Sydney Motorsport Park was added to the calendar this season, while the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit continues to host the closing round. Unlike last season, Sandown International Raceway hosted the opening round instead of Winton Motor Raceway.

Round 1: Sandown International Raceway (9–11 February)
Round 2: Winton Motor Raceway (26–28 April)
Round 3: Sydney Motorsport Park (24–26 May)
Round 4: The Bend Motorsport Park (7–9 June)
Round 5: Queensland Raceway (2–4 August)
Round 6: Sydney Motorsport Park (18–20 August)
Round 7: Phillip Island GP Circuit (28–30 November)

The format 

Twenty-one races are set to take place this season, with three races taking place during each round. 

Three practice sessions will take place on Friday, running for 20 minutes each. On Saturday, there will be one qualifying round and one race. Qualifying will run for 20 minutes, while the race will run for 25 minutes. Two races will take place on Sunday, running for 25 minutes each. 

The final qualifying order sets the grid for race one. The results of race one set the grid for race two, and the results of race two set the grid for race three. 

Points are allocated to the top 10 finishers. Races one and two will award the winner 12 points, with the runner-up being awarded nine and third awarded eight. Race three provides more points, with the winner being awarded 20 points, the runner-up being awarded 15 and third awarded 12. 

Where to watch 

Round one, five, and six will be broadcast on the Seven Network. Other rounds will be streamed online on 7plus. Additionally, you can watch the series on YouTube or on Blend Line TV. 

Teams and drivers

Tim Macrow Racing

The team of Tim Macrow, the creator of the championship, races in Australian Formula Open this season. Tim Macrow Racing has entries in both the AFO1 class and the AFO4 class. In AFO1, the team uses the Dallara F308/11. In AFO4, they use the Mygale M14-F4. Tim Macrow Racing is currently the only team in the championship to have multiple drivers competing under its banner.

The overall champion from last season, Trent Grubel (#1), returned to compete in round one in the AFO1 class. Grubel placed second in race one and third in race three. Unlike his teammates, who competed with the Dallara F308/11, Grubel competed with the Dallara F312. Grubel did not compete in round two at Winton or round three at Sydney but will make his return to the championship in the fourth round at The Bend. 

The current overall and AFO1 championship leader, Miles Bromley (#9), has earned five first-place finishes so far. Bromley took two wins at Sandown, two at Winton and one at Sydney. He also competed in Australian Formula Open last season, placing third overall in the standings. Bromley is competing with the Dallara F308/11. 

Currently second in the overall standings and the AFO1 standings is Ryan MacMillan (#21), who has three wins so far. MacMillan won race three at Winton and won races one and two at Sydney. He also competed in the championship last season, placing 14th overall and fifth in the AFO4 class. MacMillan is competing in the AFO1 class with the Dallara F308/11.

Beau Russell (#22) is currently fourth in the overall and AFO1 championship standings, with his highest-placed finish being second at the third race in Sydney. Russell also placed third in race one at Winton. He competed in Australian Formula Open last season, placing sixth in the overall standings. Russell is also competing with the Dallara F308/11. 

Joanne Ciconte (#25) competed in round one in Mygale M14-F4, earning results that place her 12th in the overall standings and jointly third in the AFO4 class. She is also racing in Australian F4 this year and is currently seventh in the standings. Ciconte did not compete in the second round at Winton or the third round in Sydney. 

Also competing for Tim Macrow Racing this season is rookie Jayden Hamilton (#43). Hamilton’s current highest place finish is sixth in the second round at Winton. Hamilton is currently 10th in the overall standings after having withdrawn from the third round in Sydney. Hamilton is competing with the Mygale M14-F4 and is second in the AFO4 class. He will not be competing in round four at The Bend as his Mygale car is undergoing repairs, and he will instead be racing in Australian F4 at the same circuit.

Chris Huang (#16) joined Tim Macrow Racing to compete in the third round at Sydney this season as the first-ever – and thus far only – AFO3 entry. Huang competed in the championship last season in the AFO4 class, placing 19th in the overall standings and third in the AFO4 standings. Having upgraded to a current-generation Formula Regional car, the Tatuus F3-T318, Huang is currently placed 12th overall. He will return for the fourth round at The Bend.

Gilmour Racing

Gilmour Racing has continued in Australian Formula Open this season. Unlike last season, when the team entered multiple cars, the team has only entered one car this season. The car, a Dallara F308/11, is run by Kyle Evans (#17), who returns to the team for his second season in the championship. Evans won race three in Sandown. He is competing in the AFO1 class and is currently third in the overall championship standings and the AFO1 standings.  

GK Racing

GK Racing is a self-owned team founded by George Kantzios (#23 / #27). Kantzios himself will be running his team’s sole car, a Dallara F304, in Australian Formula Open. With motorsport experience dating back to 15 years ago, Kantzios is competing in the AFO1 class and is currently sixth in the overall standings and fifth in the AFO1 standings. Kantzios’ current best place finish is fifth in race one at Winton. 

99 Motorsport

Having only entered the first round this season, 99 Motorsport ran Ryan Astley (#99) in its Dallara F308/11. Astley competed in the AFO1 class, earning two third-place finishes in the first two races at Sandown and placing fifth in race three. Astley currently sits seventh overall and sixth in the AFO1 class. He also competed in the championship last season, placing fourth overall.

State Fleet Services

State Fleet Services has returned to Australian Formula Open with Matthew Roesler (#4), who is leading the AFO2 class in the Tatuus FT-50 once used in the Toyota Racing Series. Roesler competed in the championship last year as well, taking the AFO2 class championship title and placing 20th in the overall standings. Roesler did not compete in round three and is currently eighth in the overall standings. Roesler also previously competed in Australian F3 in 2022, the successor to Australian Formula Open, as an invitational driver. Roesler will be competing in round four at The Bend.

TCM Race Services

TCM Race Services entered one car in Australian Formula Open, driven by Matthew Woodland (#53). Woodland was entered in the AFO2 class of the championship, running the Tatuus FT-50, but he had a crash in qualifying at Sandown and withdrew from the races. He did not appear on the entry list for round two, but he returns to the championship for round four at The Bend. 

Remarkable Electrical and Contracting Services / Jetforms.com.au 

Christopher Slusarski (#93) competed under the Remarkable Electrical and Contracting Services banner in the AFO2 class, running the Tatuus FT-50 as well. Slusarski’s best finish was fifth in race one of the first round. He did not compete in the second or the third round but will return for the fourth round under the Jetforms.com.au banner. Slusarski’s performances currently place him in 11th overall and second in the AFO2 class. Slusarski also competed as an invitational driver in Australian F3 in 2022. 

Volante Rosso

 Volante Rosso enters the Australian Formula Open for the first time this season. Volante Rosso only has one car currently entered in the championship, driven by Isaac McNeill (#11). McNeill is competing in the AFO4 class, running the Tatuus F4-T014, the Italian manufacturer’s first-generation F4 chassis. McNeill is currently fifth in the overall standings and first in the AFO4 standings, but he is not competing in round four at The Bend.

TWS Motorsport

Trent Shirvington (#14) competed for TWS Motorsport at the third round in Sydney. Competing in the AFO1 class, Shirvington placed seventh in both races one and two but retired in race three. Shirvington is 14th in the overall championship having picked up eight points during the third round. 

AGI Sport

AGI Sport returned to Australian Formula Open this season in round three, with driver Tim Boydle (#40) competing in the AFO4 class in a Mygale M14-F4. Boydle previously competed in the first round of Australian Formula Open last season. Boydle placed eighth overall and second in class in all three races at Sydney.

Di Biase Cabinetry 

Paul Di Biase (#27) will be making his return to the Australia Formula Open this season during the fourth round at The Bend. Di Biase will be competing in the AFO2 class with the Tatuus FT-50. His best result last season in Australian Formula Open was 11th during the last race of the season at Phillip Island. 

BF Racing

Lachlan Evennett (#88) will be making his Australian Formula Open debut at The Bend this season with BF Racing. Evennett is currently racing in Australian Formula Ford and is 14th in the standings. He will be racing in the AFO4 class with a Mygale M14-F4. 

Ruff Racing

Ruff Racing entered one car into the Australian Formula Open championship this season, intended to be driven by Gerrit Ruff in the AFO1 class. But Ruff withdrew from the championship before round one and was not on the entry list for round two. The 55-year-old also entered two rounds of the championship last season but did not start any races.

Header photo credit: Australian Formula Open