The Tasman Series will be contested in a new seven-race S5000 championship, bringing back the iconic trophy name.
Two rounds of a S5000 summer championship this year will determine the winner of the revived Tasman Series.
The first is at the Bathurst International in November, and the finale is on the streets of the Gold Coast in December.
The winning driver will be presented the Tasman Cup, first awarded in 1964 to New Zealand’s own Bruce McLaren.
While this year’s Tasman Series revival is solely based in Australia, S5000 plans to have future rounds contested in New Zealand, truly bringing back the trans-Tasman status of the series.
“With some many Kiwi names adoring this trophy already, it’s great to enable the stars of today from NZ and Australia to do battle is these new cars which have created such a stir with the fans as they battle to join such a prestigious list,” MotorSport New Zealand CEO Elton Goonan said.
“MotorSport New Zealand look forward to seeing the series taking to the track and look forward to hosting some rounds in New Zealand in the future.”
Australian Racing Group CEO Matt Braid echoed Goonan’s comments.
“The awarding of the Tasman Cup for the first time in two decades comes with the full blessing of Motorsport Australia and Motorsport New Zealand and it is absolutely our plan to build this into a full Trans-Tasman series for S5000 in the future.”
The Tasman Series was an annual championship for single-seater cars contested in the summer months of New Zealand and Australia between 1964 and 1975.
Early seasons had cars run to the ‘Tasman Formula’, which was similar to current Formula 1 cars of the time.
Formula 5000 cars were welcomed to the series in 1970 before the championship folded in 1975.
Several Formula 1 drivers would enter the Tasman Series to hone their skills with racing held in the Northern Hemisphere winter.
The series attracted the likes of Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt.
Winners of the Tasman Cup include Clark, Stewart, Chris Amon and Graham McRae.
A brief revival of the Tasman Series was held between 1999 and 2000 for Formula Holden cars in New Zealand.
This year’s two S5000 Tasman Series rounds will be broadcast live across New Zealand and Australia.
Kaleb Ngatoa was the only New Zealander on the S5000 grid last season, where he picked up two race wins.
However, the revived Tasman Series is hoped to entice the interests of more New Zealand and international drivers.
“The prizes, circuits and opportunity on offer this Summer should make this an extremely appealing series for drivers from Australia, New Zealand and even potentially further abroad this year,” S5000 category manager Luke Curkpatrick said.
The announcement of the Tasman Series replaces the previously announced Triple Crown after the cancellation of the 2021 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
The S5000 Tasman Series will not interfere with the regular S5000 season but rather be a standalone summer attraction.
