Ross Sweeps Teretonga, Ingram And Roberts Crowned F5000 Series Winners At George Begg Festival

Dunedin’s Steve Ross completed a clean sweep at the George Begg Festival this weekend at Invercargill’s Teretonga Park, winning all four races to close out the 2024/25 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series in dominant fashion.

But the weekend belonged just as much to Feilding’s Kevin Ingram, who clinched the Open Class title, and Napier’s Tony Roberts, who secured the Class A honours, bringing the curtain down on a six-round season that spanned both islands.

Set against the backdrop of the George Begg Festival, with its colourful paddock of period costumes and heritage race cars, the event paid fitting tribute to George Begg’s legacy—a man who proved that with ingenuity and spirit, a shed in Southland could take on the world. The nostalgic setting added rich atmosphere as these 5-litre V8 icons thundered once more around New Zealand’s southernmost FIA-graded circuit.

For Ingram, the title win was the reward for a season of consistency and commitment. Driving the Lola T332 HU48R, he finished every race—no small feat for a 50-year-old car originally built for the Can-Am series.

“I’m quite rapt,” said a jubilant Ingram. “My wife Helen was a bit nervous before the first race this morning, knowing I had to finish to secure the title. I’m very grateful to have such a supportive wife—without her, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

He also acknowledged the team behind the scenes: “I’ve got to thank the friends who’ve backed me through the season and especially Ross Dallas—Rossco—who’s been so helpful with the engine. And my daughter and son, who never saw me race when they were younger, now get to be part of it.”

Ingram secured second overall in Sunday morning’s race, but a couple of off-track excursions in the afternoon dropped him to sixth. He later hinted at offseason upgrades for the Lola, as thoughts turned to next season.

Driving the high-wing 1969 McLaren M10A (chassis 300-9), Tony Roberts wrapped up the Class A title, sealing the deal with consistent performances and capitalising on the absence of closest rival Frank Karl in the final round. The battle between the two had been closely fought all season, and Roberts closed it out in style, collecting maximum points on Sunday.

After Saturday’s blustery winds, Sunday delivered calm, late-summer conditions, with strong spectator turnout enjoying the sunshine and soundtrack of roaring F5000s.

The morning race was restarted due to a technical issue on lap one. Once underway, Steve Ross—driving the McRae GM1 Quicksilver Racing car—once again pulled clear, while Blake Knowles impressed in the Begg FM5/2, challenging Ingram for second. Knowles' pace continues to grow as he becomes more comfortable in the Lindsay O’Donnell-owned machine, itself a tribute to the engineering brilliance of Begg’s original creations.

Tony Galbraith’s fourth place secured his runner-up position in the Open Class standings, while Michael Hey (McRae GM1) was sidelined by a persistent electrical fault.

The final race of the season saw Ross go four-for-four, fending off a determined Knowles, who finished just 0.891 seconds behind. The battle for third was equally intense, with Tony Galbraith and Glenn Richards locked in a fierce duel in their Lola T332s, while Grant Martin brought his historic Talon MR1—a car once raced by Chris Amon, Walter Wolf and Jack McCormick—home in fifth.

The season concluded with a special presentation: Kevin Ingram was awarded the Open Class trophy by Jacque Blake (née Begg), daughter of the late George Begg. The moment was a poignant reminder of the impact Begg had on New Zealand motorsport, and how his legacy lives on through the very cars and competitors gathered at Teretonga this weekend.

Supporting the series in its 22nd season is SAS Autoparts, MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialised Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Nova Tyres, Webdesign, Exide Batteries and Pacifica Shipping – who sea freight the cars for the New Zealand events. Their commitment ensures that this classic racing series remains a highlight of New Zealand’s motorsport calendar.

Its competitors are now planning a trip to Australia before the start of the 2025-26 season.

For more information on event dates, entry details, and how to follow the series, visit the official website www.f5000.co.nz and follow us on Facebook at F5000 New Zealand.

Notes:

Results – round 6: SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series

2024/2025 Series Dates:

Round 1. MG Classic 8-10 November 2024 – Chris Amon Manfeild Feilding

Round 2. 10-12 January 2025 - Historic GP – Taupo International Motorsport Park, Taupo

Round 3. 24-26 January 2025 - NZIGP Legends of Speed (David Oxton) - Hampton Downs

Round 4. 31 Jan - 2 February 2025 -SKOPE Classic - Euromarque Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, Christchurch

Round 5. 14-16 March 2025 – NZIGP Thunder at the Downs – Hampton Downs

Round 6. 10 - 13 April 2025 – George Begg Festival Teretonga Park, Invercargill

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