McRae Would Be Happy With One-Two Result In First F5000 Race At Skope Classic Meeting In Christchurch

09 April

A little over 50 years ago (on Sunday January 22, 1972) the late, great Graham McRae drove his then new Leda ‘GM1 001’ Formula 5000 single-seater to a dominant victory in the Lady Wigram Trophy race on a temporary circuit at Christchurch’s Wigram Air Force Base.

Today, two of his cars – the comprehensively rebuilt and race prepared original
STP pink Leda ‘GM1 001’ now owned by Alistair and Vicki Hey of Queenstown and driven by local category young gun Michael Collins, and a later ‘production’ model ‘McRae GM1’ (009) owned and driven by three-time former SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series title holder Steve Ross from Dunedin – qualified first and second, then – after swapping the lead a couple of times a amongst themselves, a mistake by Ross allowed Collins final pass for the lead which he managed to hold onto until the chequered flag came out.

Third across the line – having spent much of the race defending the position from fellow Lola T332 driver Codie

Banks – was the ever-improving Kevin Ingram.

Just when Banks Jnr thought he was in with a chance, he was forced to slow dramatically then stop completely on lap 6 of 8 as his car’s engine suddenly lost all oil pressure.

The news wasn’t all bad for members of the Banks family however, Codie’s father David Banks (Talon MR1) inheriting 4th place just 5 seconds behind Ingram but a good half a minute up on F5000 class new face Buce Kett (Lola T332) who was a ‘very happy man’ in 5th.

Like sixth placed fellow category new face Alastair Chalmers (Chevron B32) Kett said he was taking a cautious approach, and one he was already benefiting from.

Finally in the battle for Class A honours (for earlier era cars) category stalwart Tony Roberts in his recently acquired ex Kip Ackerman South African series McLaren M10B (400-08), was shadowed all the way to by Toby Annabell from Hawera in Taranaki in his similar M10B.

Aucklander Frank Karl had battery issues with his McLaren M10B however and was one of three drivers who DNFed today’s race.

The other two were Rnd 1 race winner Grant Martin (Talon MR1/A) who broke an input shaft on the first full lap, prompting an early Safety Car intervention while the prone car was moved, and Tony Galbraith (Lola T332) who had engine issues.

Tomorrow all the action from the Skope Classic is being livestreamed. Here's the YouTube link https://youtu.be/nsiTtbJq24g

The SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Serries 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.

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