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The all-new S5000 series is an ‘obvious candidate’ for the reintroduction of the Gold Star according to CAMS CEO Eugene Arocca.
Last awarded in 2014, the Gold Star was aligned with the Australian Formula 3 Series before being pulled midway through the 2015 season.
It ended a tradition that ran back to the tail end of the 1950s in Australia where the award was given to the leading open wheel racer in the country.
However, the flagging fortunes of Formula 3 at the time saw CAMS put the award on ice.
For a time it was suggested it could make a return with Formula 4, though Arocca claimed that was never a consideration
“The Gold Star has not been awarded by CAMS for some four years now,” he told Speedcafe.com.
“It’s sitting dormant at the moment, waiting for a premier open wheel category to be attached to.
“I would never have thought Formula 4 would be a candidate for Gold Star.
“(The) Gold Star, historically, is for essentially the best open wheel competitor in Australia.
“So CAMS at this stage is still waiting and hoping that an open wheel category that is not a junior development one that would put forward a claim to be entitled to that Gold Star.
“Until we believe, this is the position of the Board, that there is a category that merits that sort of recognition, with the standard of driving recognised by that sort of award, then we would certainly very happily consider reintroducing the Gold Star.
“They’re an obvious candidate but they haven’t run a race yet,” Arocca responded when asked if S5000 could be the new home for the award, but cautioned that it’s unlikely to be in the immediate future.
“The last thing we would want to do is come out and announce a Gold Star for a category that hasn’t run and then for whatever reason, and we learned a little bit about being presumptuous about the market with Formula 4, if for whatever reason it doesn’t continue or succeed or become sustainable then we again have to retire the Gold Star.
“I think most people would understand entirely that we should adopt a wait and see approach to make a decision on whether and when the Gold Star should be brought back.”
The inaugural S5000 event will be held as part of the Shannons Nationals at Sandown this weekend.
