Motorsport Australia to bring back the Gold Star Award  – Motorsport Australia

Motorsport Australia to bring back the Gold Star Award 

Motorsport Australia is pleased to announce the reinstatement of the prestigious Gold Star Award, with support from the Australian Motorsport Racing Commission (AMRC) and V8 Sleuth.  

The Gold Star Award aims to recognise the best-performing circuit driver in Australia each calendar year, awarding points through a new four-tiered structure, highlighting achievements across both national and international motorsport categories. 

“The Gold Star Award is an important recognition of Australian motorsport excellence. Its return not only honours our current champions but also inspires the next generation of drivers to achieve greatness on the global stage,” said Lisa Crampton,  Sporting & Technical Director Motorsport Australia. 

The award will adopt a comprehensive tiered points system to evaluate driver performance. This innovative approach ensures fairness and inclusivity across a wide range of motorsport categories, reflecting the diverse landscape of modern racing. 

A New Era of Recognition: The Tiered Points System 

The Gold Star Award will feature a structured, four-tiered points system: 

  • Tier 1: FIA Formula 1, FIA World Endurance Championship, IndyCar Series
  • Tier 2: Supercars, NASCAR, FIA Formula 2, Porsche Supercup, Formula E, IMSA
  • Tier 3: National GT, Carrera Cup, National TCR, FIA Formula 3, Australian AU4 Championship, Australian AU3 Championship, other Formula Regional categories
  • Tier 4: Other National Formula 4 categories. 

Points will be allocated based on finishing positions within each series, with additional base points awarded for participation. Drivers will only accrue participation points for their highest-ranked category, provided they achieve a top-10 finish. Furthermore, bonus points will be granted for victories in globally iconic races, including: Bathurst 1000, Indy 500, Le Mans, Daytona 500, Daytona 24 Hours, and the Monaco Grand Prix. 

Introducing a Real-Time Leaderboard 

In a significant update to the Gold Star Award, points will now be accumulated and tracked throughout the racing season, replacing the previous end-of-season tally. A live leaderboard will be published and updated monthly, providing fans, teams, and media with a dynamic and transparent view of driver standings as the season progresses. 

The leaderboard will be published and maintained in partnership with V8 Sleuth, a leading name in motorsport media.  

“We’re excited to partner with Motorsport Australia to showcase the Gold Star leaderboard. This initiative will engage fans like never before and highlight the exceptional achievements of our Australian drivers,” said Aaron Noonan, Managing Director, V8 Sleuth. 

The Gold Star Award will inspire and celebrate the exceptional talent of drivers in Australia, further cementing their place on the global motorsport stage. 

Eligible Categories
Tier 1

FIA Formula 1, FIA World Endurance Championship, IndyCar Series

Tier 2

Supercars, NASCAR, FIA Formula 2, Porsche Supercup, Formula E, IMSA

Tier 3

National GT, Carrera Cup, National TCR, FIA Formula 3, Australian AU4 Championship, Australian AU3 Championship, other Formula Regional categories

Tier 4

Other National F4

Points Structure
1st 100
2nd 72
3rd 60
4th 48
5th 40
6th 32
7th 24
8th 16
9th 8
10th 4
1st 50
2nd 36
3rd 30
4th 24
5th 20
6th 16
7th 12
8th 8
9th 4
10th 2
1st 25
2nd 18
3rd 15
4th 12
5th 10
6th 8
7th 6
8th 4
9th 2
10th 1
1st 15
2nd 10
3rd 8
4th 4
5th 2
Tier  Categories  Base Points 
1 Formula 1, World Endurance Championship, IndyCar 20
2 Supercars, NASCAR, F2, Porsche Supercup, Formula E, IMSA 10
3 National GT, Carrera Cup, National TCR, F3, Australian F4 5
4 Other National F4 0

• Fifth place in a tier is roughly equivalent to 1st place in the tier below.

• Additional Base Points are awarded for participation in tiers (these only apply to the highest category in which the driver finished in the Top 10).

• An additional 10 points will be awarded for winning the following prestigious races:

  • Bathurst 1000
  • Indy 500
  • 24 Hours of Le Mans
  • Daytona 500
  • 24 Hours of Daytona
  • Monaco Grand Prix

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