One-make Mazda RX-8 class to honour the late, great Allan Moffat

Formula RX-8 will honour the late, great Allan Moffat in 2026 and beyond, putting the four-times Bathurst 1000 and Australian touring car champion’s name to the category’s championship trophy.

Drivers in Formula RX-8, which will host its opening round at The Bend Motorsport Park this weekend, will compete for the Allan Moffat Cup – a prize name that has received full blessing from the Moffat family.

Moffat forged a memorable partnership with Mazda in the early 1980s, spearheading the factory-backed Mazda Dealer Team’s Australian touring car campaign with the rotary-powered RX-7. and it's Mazda's 1.3 litre rotary 13B engine that inspired Formula RX-8 management to dedicate the championship prize to Moffat. Both the 1980s RX-7s and the current RX-8s use the same naturally-aspirated twin-rotor Wankel powerplant.

Moffat's involvement helped elevate Mazda’s reputation in Australian motorsport, delivering race wins and major exposure for the japanese brand during one of the most competitive and popular eras of touring car racing.

Moffat’s most notable success came in 1983 when he won the Australian Touring Car Championship – Mazda's first and only ATCC success.

Formula RX-8 is a one-make Mazda class designed for close, affordable racing. Powered by high-revving rotary engines, the cars run controlled components to ensure parity and reward driver skill.

Close to 20 entrants will line up at The Bend for the opening round this weekend as part of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

Formula RX-8 will hold seven rounds during 2026, including visits to Sydney Motorsport Park, Queensland Raceway, Winton and the final round at Calder Park. 

The third round of the series will be held at ONE Raceway near Goulburn which will be the category’s ‘Nationals.’

Practice at The Bend will be held on Friday ahead of qualifying and racing on Saturday and Sunday.

All races will be seen on Foxtel and Kayo, plus free-to-air coverage on SBS. Check your local guides for broadcast details.

QUOTES

Justin Lewis - Director and competitor, Formula RX-8

“Allan Moffat is undoubtedly one of the greats of Australian motorsport and the mark he left on the sport is one that will live on for many lifetimes to come,” said Lewis.

“While he was known a Ford man, he was first and foremost a competitor, and when he had the opportunity to bring Mazda into Australian touring car racing in the early 1980s, he did it with professionalism and prowess.

“He took Mazda to its first and only Touring Car crown in 1983 – an achievement that is still regarded as one of the best.

“In the wake of Allan’s passing, we wanted to honour his contribution to the sport through his brief, but successful partnership with Mazda.

“Allan made Mazdas ‘race car cool’ in the 1980s, and we know that our cars and category match that.

“Everyone at Formula RX-8 is looking forward to presenting the Formula RX-8 champion with the Allan Moffat Cup at the final round at Calder Park later this year.”