The Western Australian Formula 500 Championship is one of the longest running title events in WA. Starting in the 1957/58 season, the division was then known as TQ’s and the event (and the following two title events) was won by Wally Higgs.
In the 1973/74 season the title underwent a name change to Formula 500’s, with the event being won by Bill Richards, a man still competing today.
Now in its fifty eighth year, the event has a who’s who of winners in its history, with John Andersson a six time champion and BillBroadwood a four time champion, not to mention a whole host of others.
Looking at the modern era of Formula 500 racing, Matt Brown has claimed the title three times since the 2002/03 season while the last fifteen title events have seen eleven winners: both Steven Ellement and Ben Devlin grabbing two title wins each.
If we further analyse the complete history of the title, it comes as no surprise that John Andersson leads the all-time list, with six wins, three seconds and five thirds for a total of fourteen podium finishes. Next best is Bill Broadwood with eight podiums, including four wins, three seconds and a third.
Seventy six drivers have claimed a podium finish in the fifty seven year history of the event so far, including a total of thirty three drivers who have claimed a win. Aside from Andersson and Broadwood there are four drivers who have claimed the win three times (Matt Brown, Bryan Mullings, Wally Higgs and Noel Potts), eight drivers who have grabbed two wins apiece, while a further nineteen drivers have claimed victory on one occasion.
Brad Chapman would have to be the most successful in WA titles to have never actually have claimed a win, with a total of four podium finishes including two seconds and two thirds. Ken Neilson also grabbed a second and two thirds without a victory.
Last year’s event at the Bunbury Speedway attracted thirty nominations, but this year at the Perth Motorplex a huge field of thirty three drivers have nominated, with a field that is including two visiting drivers and no less than three former WA champions, not to mention a whole host of drivers who can not wait to stake their own claim to the historic WA Title trophy.
So who will take the title? A full list of nominations will be released tomorrow, but in the ,meantime, make sure you have organized to get your backside trackside this Friday and Saturday nights in what is sure to be the biggest show of the season so far!

Release by DTN Media
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN FORMULA 500 CHAMPIONSHIP
SEASON FIRST SECOND THIRD
1957-58 Wally Higgs George Higgs Brian Lucy
1958-59 Wally Higgs Harley Pederick Mt Taylor
1959-60 Wally Higgs Harry Condor Jack Rowe
1960-61 Noel Potts Don Ferguson Wally Higgs
1961-62 Noel Potts Tony Walker George Cole
1962-63 Noel Potts Graham Wegner Peter Kayne
1964-65 Danny Lohoar Graham McDougall John Andersson
1965-66 Charlie West John Andersson John Thomas
1966-67 Charlie West Ralph Bellairs Rob Grant
1967-68 John Andersson Graham McDougall Peter Nicholson
1968-69 Graham McDougall John Andersson John Thomas
1969-70 John Andersson George Gregson Gary Sharpe
1970-71 George Gregson Stan McEntee John Andersson
1971-72 John Andersson Norm Kemp Barry Hancock
1972-73 Wally Cowie Bill Richards John Andersson
1973-74 Bill Richards Barry Hancock Ray Smith
1974-75 John Andersson Ken Neilson Barry Hancock
1975-76 Barry Hancock Bill Richards Ray Smith
1976-77 John Andersson Jim Tryhorn Ken Neilson
1977-78 George Higgs Ray Windon Ken Neilson
1978-79 George Higgs Bill Broadwood Bryan Mullings
1979-80 John Andersson Ray Windon Rod Bottrell
1980-81 Rod Bottrell Trevor Pearce Des Ferris
1981-82 Peter Sumpton George Higgs John Andersson
1982-83 Bill Broadwood Robbie Brown Peter Sumpton
1983-84 Bill Broadwood Col Thompson Rod Bottrell
1984-85 Peter Sumpton John Andersson Barry Hancock
1985-86 Des Ferris Bill Broadwood Peter Sumpton
1986-87 Bill Broadwood Des Ferris Vince Chapman
1987-88 Bill Broadwood Vince Chapman Des Ferris
1988-89 Vince Chapman Paul Anderson Gary Ellement
1989-90 Jeff Hancock Bill Broadwood Bryan Mullings
1990-91 Bryan Mullings Alan Bascombe Phil Crofts
1991-92 Bryan Mullings Bill Richards Paul Anderson
1992-93 Paul Anderson Phil Crofts Rod Bottrell
1993-94 Bryan Mullings Phil Crofts Bill Broadwood
1994-95 Jeff Hancock Phil Crofts John Andersson
1995-96 Craig Okely Bryan Mullings Dave Irvine
1996-97 Marshall McDiarmid Phil Crofts Jeff Hancock
1997-98 Aaron Griffiths Brian Coombs Phil Crofts
1998-99 Phil Crofts Brad Chapman Jeff Hancock
1999-00 Trevor Harding Brad Chapman Phil Crofts
2000-01 Phil Crofts Graham Higgs Anthony Chitty
2001-02 Trevor Harding Graham Higgs Phil Crofts
2002-03 Matt Brown Tim Gardner Brad Chapman
2003-04 Gavin Casey Matt Brown Rod Bottrell
2004-05 Matt Brown Tim Gardner Leroy McKay
2005-06 Matt Brown Steven Gay Brad Chapman
2006-07 Ben Devlin Matt Brown Phil Crofts
2007-08 Ben Devlin Matt Brown Steven Gay
2008-09 Steven Ellement Cody Turacchio Wayne Moller (Qld)
2009-10 Steven Ellement Ben McLeod (Vic) Trevor Harding Jr
2010-11 Daniel Harding Steven Ellement Trevor Harding Jr
2011-12 David Sinagra Charlie Brown (Qld) Matt Brown
2012-13 Andrew Priolo Mark House Jason Priolo
2013-14 Jye O'Keeffe (Vic) Thomas Davies Steven Ellement
2014-15 Tom Hooper Steven Ellement Troy Johnson