Motorsport: F5000s out in force for historic event

Ken Smith, who won the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe in 1976 driving an F5000, is back in this Lola T430. Photo / Alex Mitchell

This year is the 40th anniversary of the stock-block five-litre single-seater Formula 5000 category and at least 16 of them will be on the grid this weekend at Pukekohe.

The Historic Racing Club/MSC Formula 5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series has attracted British husband and wife team Frank and Judy Lyons, who have bought two cars, a Lola T400 for Frank and a rare Eagle FA74 for Judy, to race.

The pair are part of a four-strong contingent of overseas drivers joining the series for the next two rounds, first at Pukekohe and then at Taupo.

The others are Australians Bob Harborow, in a Lola T192, and Aaron Lewis with his Matich A53.

In its heyday - between 1970 and 1977 - Formula 5000 (or Formula A as it was called in the United States) was the premier national single-seater formula in America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as one of the main domestic single-seater categories in Britain. Eventually, the class was superseded by the smaller, lighter and supposedly cheaper Formula Atlantic (Pacific in NZ).

Also on display with the F5000 cars this weekend is Phil Mauger's ex-Denny Hulme McLaren M23 Formula One car.

Leading the series after two of the five rounds is Christchurch's Chris Hyde, 168 points, in a McRae GM1.

Hyde has won all six races so far, despite close attention from veteran Ken Smith, 144 points, who has joined the MSC series this season in a Lola T430. Third is Sefton Gibb, 120 points, in the 2006/7 series-winning Lola T332.

Smith won the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe in 1976 driving a F5000 so it's quite an occasion for the 66-year-old.

There will be three F5000 races, culminating in the 12-lap Tasman Revival Series Cup race on Sunday.

The MSC series is supported by an international gathering of Formula Junior owners with their cars, as well as races for the local Muscle Car and SuperGT series.