The 1970’s 5.0 litre stock block V8-powered Formula 5000 single-seater racing cars, which competed at Taupo International Motorsport Park did not disappoint at the circuit last weekend.
Sponsored by SAS Autoparts MSC, NZ F5000 were an outstanding spectacle of raw power and close racing that enthralled the large crowd at the now Tony Quinn-owned Taupō International Motorsport Park circuit.
Any sub 1:30.000 time is impressive for a 40+ year-old racing car around the tight, technical 14-corner international circuit at Taupō International Motorsport Park and qualifying gave a hint of what was to come with five of the F5000 cars going under that time! Piha resident, Grant Martin qualified fastest at 1.27.295
Current F5000 class form man Kevin Ingram (Lola T332) failed to qualify, as he had to withdraw from the circuit on the first lap. Tony Roberts, in the ‘high wing’ McLaren M10A, was the fastest of the older Class A cars, achieving a personal best of 1.32.952.
Race One saw a real battle between the top 6 drivers, with only one second covering their lap times. Grant Martin was able to come out on top in this instance, but was closely followed by five cars within 13 seconds of each other! The return of Brett Willis showed that he had lost none of his skills, only 1 second behind Grant Martin.
Race Two was the ubiquitous Handicap Race, that was full of drama and kept the crowd on its feet until the end! Bruce Kett in his Lola T332 managed to just pip Russell Greer in his Lola T332 to the finishing post by 0.7 of a second, with Brett Willis, Lola T330, only 0.3 of a second behind the first two.
The Historic Grand Prix feature race was a cracker! Grant Martin, in the Talon had the misfortune to break a front upright in Practice on Frida and had driven back to Auckland, machined a spare upright, returned and installed it for Saturday. By now only eleven cars were contesting the HGP, as Tony Galbraith’s Lola T332 had developed engine issues and withdrawn from the racing. Grant Martin was showing a clean pair of heels to the field until the last lap, when this time a rear upright broke going into the big sweeper!
The race then came down to Brett Willis, Glenn Richards, Shayne Windelburn and Kevin Ingram all within 3 seconds of each other. Russell Greer was in no-mans-land 18 seconds back, while Tony Roberts just headed Tim Rush McLaren M22, Bruce Kett Lola T332 and Toby Annabell McLaren M10B. Codie Banks was a DNF and Alastair Chalmers, Chevron B32, was unable to race due to a minor collision with Kevin Ingram in the morning race.
Results – Race 1 – 6 laps
1/ Grant Martin
2/ Brett Willis
3/ Glenn Richards
4/ Codie Banks
5/ Shayne Windelburn
6/ Kevin Ingram
7/ Bruce Kett
8/ Russell Greer
9/ Tony Roberts
10/ Tim Rush
11/ Alastair Chalmers
12/ Toby Annabell
DNS Anthony Galbraith
Race 2 (Handicap – 6 laps)
1/ Bruce Kett
2/ Russell Greer
3/ Brett Willis
4/ Shayne Windelburn
5/ Codie Banks
6/ Glenn Richards
7/ Tim Rush
8/ Tony Roberts
9/ Toby Annabell
10/ Grant Martin
DNF Alastair Chalmers
DNF Kevin Ingram
Race 3 Historic Grand Prix – 8 laps
1/ Brett Willis
2/ Glenn Richards
3/ Shayne Windelburn
4/ Kevin Ingram
5/ Russell Greer
6/ Tony Roberts
7/ Tim Rush
8/ Bruce Kett
9/ Toby Annabell
DNF Grant Martin
DNF Codie Banks
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