Opening the 22nd season of the SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival series begins with the first round of point scoring toward the overall title at Manfeild’s Circuit Chris Amon this weekend 8-10 November 2024.
With points awarded for entry, the season starts with lower than expected numbers largely due to global shipping delays following a successful trip by a number of the teams to the UK in July.
Aiming to assemble ten of the historic category open-wheel five-litre thundering V8 cars that dominated the racing world in the 1970’s, there are several notable omissions.
Blenheim’s Russell Greer (Lola T332) and Dunedin’s Steve Ross (McRae GM1) are two still awaiting the return of their cars. Other entrants affected include David Banks (Talon MR1) and Glenn Richards, who’s Lola T400 was damaged.
A change for the Manfeild weekend sees the category based in the pitlane garages, with direct access to the 3.03km long circuit the late Chris Amon helped architect during his career – that included racing F5000.
The 2004 grid is a mix of Group A (cars built before 1971) and Group B (cars built after 1971), that includes the return of Manfeild local Tim Rush in the 1972 McLaren M22 while Michael Hey (Blenheim) in the family owned McRae GM1 (chassis 004) is the only South Island entry this weekend.
An additional 12 categories will be racing at the annual Manfeild MG Classic event including: Classics, Formula First Championship, Allcomers (including Schedule K and Group A Cars), Heritage Touring Cars NZ, Historic Muscle and Saloon Cars, Historic Sports Sedans & Invited Allcomers, Historic Racing Cars, Single Seaters and Formula Juniors Historic & Vintage Racing Association NZ, NZ Sports Car Racing Series / Formula Libre, Pre 65 North Island Race Series / Super Mini Challenge Race Series, Touring Car Masters New Zealand & NZ 6 North Island.
While the F5000 drivers get the opportunity to practice on the Friday it’s game-face from Saturday morning with qualifying held early in the morning. The season opening six-lap race will be held in the afternoon. There are a further two races being held on the Sunday, six-laps in the morning and eight-laps in the afternoon.
The sprint races award 20 points for the winner, reducing by a point to the next placegetter through to 20th position. The handicap race attracts 10 points for the win, through to a single point for 10th place.
“The car finishing the most races will likely be the overall title winner,” explains Glenn Richards, president of the F5000 association. There is an additional 20 points for each competitor who enters the weekend.
Typical spring weather for the Manawatu region is expected to be mild with highs of 21degC, with rain and westerly winds forecast. That’s likely to ensure the Manfeild lap record of 1m02.1sec, set on 11 January 1976 by Graeme Lawrence in a Lola T332, remains secure.
This is in contrast to the summer weather a number of the field enjoyed during their UK trip where they contested the HSCC SuperPrix Brands Hatch and HSCC Gold Cup Oulton Park events – facilitated by hosts Frank and Judy Lyons.
Estimated shipping had the cars returning to New Zealand 60 days later in early October with reality stretching that beyond 90 and into mid-November for the remaining cars.
The break until the 2025 leg of the season begins mid-January will give the series time to reboot for Taupo’s Historic GP event.
Words & Images: Supplied
