F5000 series title holders return for Skope rematch

Four-time series title-holder Ken Smith (Lola T332) will spearhead a rare gathering of five of the seven title-holders of New Zealand’s world-leading and now SAS Autoparts MSC-sponsored F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at the annual Skope Classic motor racing meeting in Christchurch this weekend.

Evergreen 75-year-old super-veteran Smith, currently contesting his 60th consecutive season of national level motor racing in this country, won three consecutive MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series titles between 2009 and 2011, then came back to claim his fourth - driving a Lola T332 – in 2016.

Over the 14 years the NZ-based series has been running seven drivers have won the overall title. And with the return, this season, of 2013/14 title holder Andy Higgins (Lola T332) from Auckland, from last weekend’s Hampton Downs round of original and three-time series champ Ian Clements (Lola T332) from Christchurch, and for this round of three-time champion Steve Ross (McRae GM1) from Dunedin, means that for the first time in a number of years five of the seven title-holders – the fifth is current champ Brett Willis (Lola T330) from Rotorua – will be back behind the wheel on the same track at the same meeting.

Add in young gun Michael Collins driving the Alistair Hey McRae GM1, who was leading the category point standings up until the most recent round, plus Hampton Downs standout Aaron Burson (McRae GM1), and runaway Class A (for older cars) points leader Dave Arrowsmith (Lotus 70) from Christchurch, plus quick series regulars like Glenn Richards (Lola T400), David Banks (Lola T332), both from Auckland, and UK-based series regular Greg Thornton (Chevron B24), and you have the makings of a classic F5000 category match-up.

Series newcomer Tony Galbraith from Hampton Downs (Lola T332) and Tim Rush from Feilding in his unique McLaren M22, have also impressed this season, while the large crowd is sure to love Aucklander Frank Karl’s beautifully restored and presented McLaren M10B.

The field is certainly one of the biggest seen this season, a fact NZ F5000 Association committee member David Abbott attributes – in no small part – to NZ Rail and the re-opening of the Picton-Christchurch rail link via Kaikoura.

“Hats off to NZ Rail and our freight partners MSC, NZ Express, Bonneys and Pacifica,” Abbott said on Thursday. “Last year with the rail link lost, we only just got all the containers with our cars in them to Christchurch via the Lewis Pass road link in time for Skope. This time they were here on Wednesday which is some sort or record for us.”

There are three races for the 17-strong SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series field at the Skope Classic meeting. After a 20-minute qualifying session on Saturday morning there is one eight lap race on Saturday afternoon, a second eight lapper on Sunday morning and a 12 lap final on Sunday afternoon.

The 2017/18 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors SAS Autoparts, MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialised Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Avon Tyres, Webdesign and Exide Batteries.

You can follow the 2017/18 series on Facebook at F5000 New Zealand or on the NZ F5000 Association's website www.F5000.co.nz

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