Group 3D Sports Sedans

From an 'Austin A30 - Holden 6', to an 'Audi A4 - Chevrolet V8'... Sports Sedans racing is now in the 7th decade of bringing imagination and mechanical skill together to build Australia's most unique and beloved circuit racing vehicles.

Evolving throughout the backend of the 1960s from chopped up family sedans, cars competed under a combination of the very liberal "Sports Cars (Closed)" rules plus promoter-applied ‘invitation only’ restrictions, resulting in cars like Peter Brock’s Holden-powered Austin A30 barn build.

During the early 70s the surging popularity of this style of circuit racing resulted in an official category under CAMS being approved for “Sports Sedans”, and the 1971-founded QRDA was there and remains today the official club of the category for Queensland and Northern Rivers competitions. Sanctioning in modern times is by Motorsport Australia, which is CAMS' new trading name.

These cars are well described by the opening paragraph of the rules: "This group envisages a considerable degree of modification to eligible automobiles so as to render them more suitable for competition without modification to the external body shape except as specifically allowed for in these Regulations. Group 3D - Sports Sedans caters for dedicated circuit racing cars of generally free mechanical construction which utilise coachwork being recognisable as that of an eligible production car."

As for the external body shape changes that are permitted, this includes big wheel arch flares, front spoilers, rear wings and undertrays along with side skirts and venting.

In modern times the front of the field is dominated by off-the-shelf spaceframe cars from the likes of IRC, custom-ordered spaceframe projects through suppliers such as PACE, and one-of-one creations by privateers in their own workspace like the national championship-winning Chevrolet V8-powered Audi A4 of John Gourlay. Behind them come all types of drivers, crews and cars maximising whatever they have got to give to the project of "Sports Sedans" racing.

So while there's a worlds-apart sized gap between the performance of Brock’s 1960s Austin and the contemporary Gourley Audi, the recipe is the same now as it was then, take all the best motor car parts you can lay your hands on that you can afford to repair and maintain, stick them in a blender and out the other end comes your one-of-one, unique to you Sports Sedan race car!

National Admin: through your state-based club, so for Queensland and Northern Rivers competitors contact the QRDA

National Series: www.sportssedansnational.com.au

National Facebook: @sportssedans

State Admin: Queensland Racing Drivers Association

State Website: www.qrda.asn.au

State Facebook: @QRDAinc and QSSR pages

2026 Technical Regulations (Club Copy)

*note these may be replaced by Motorsport Australia at any time, always check the MA website for the most up to date copy for regulatory purposes