At least six Formula One cars – all unique and significant in their own ways – will run in an expanded F1 demonstration section at the forthcoming Gulf Oil Howden Ganley Formula 5000 Festival which takes place at Hampton Downs over two weekends in January.
The expansion of the sessions during both of the weekends of the event – which takes place on January 16-18 and 23-25 – follows the introduction of a Formula One spot in the programme for the 2014 Ferrari Festival when two 1980s Ferrari turbo cars and an ex-Gerhard Berger V12 powered Ferrari 412T wowed the crowds.
“These cars have a sensational presence and stop everyone in their tracks. Everyone was talking about it after our last Festival and we have pulled out all the stops to try and build on that and give our spectators what they want,” explained Festival Chairman Jim Barclay. “Those same spectators gave us resounding thumbs up to another F1 session in a survey we carried out so we have worked hard to put it together. Along with a huge field of thundering Formula 5000s, a few CanAms and a massive field of historic muscle cars including eight from Australia, the event is shaping up to be a jaw-dropping spectacle for NZ car fans.”
It is intended that at least six cars will run in the F1 sessions, and there are two sessions on each of the Saturday and Sundays of the Festival.
The Ferrari 412T is back for a second year and is a ‘special guest’ in a field that includes several cars significant in the career of Festival protagonist Howden Ganley. The unique Maki Cosworth DFV which Howden demonstrated recently at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is making the trip, along with the V12 powered BRM P180 in which he competed in the 1972 Monaco Grand Prix. The unique Stanley 1977 BRM P207, which eagle-eyed enthusiasts may have spotted at Speedshow, will also run along with another V12 powered car, as well as the 1974 BRM P201 which ran at the Festival three years ago.
Of major interest in addition to the four V12 powered cars will be the North Island debut of both of the amazing Arrows A3X cars, which were full F1 cars with a difference built by Tom Walkinshaw’s team at the turn of the Millennium. Both of these Cosworth powered cars are in fact three seater F1 cars, where the fuel tank was reduced in size and two seats added alongside and behind the driver. Both cars will take turns during the day with F5000 ace Andy Higgins at the wheel.
An early Williams FW03 chassis and a further rare BRM could yet make the trip from Great Britain for the event as well, potentially boosting the demo car field to eight F1 machines. The now Sir Colin Giltrap owned ex-Denny Hulme 1973 McLaren M23 will also be present, but as a showpiece in the display of cars that will grace the Hamptons facility, another new addition for the 2015 Festival. Up to ten cars will be displayed throughout the weekend, paying homage to Formula 5000 and Ganley, as well as F1.
In addition to the Formula One element, organisers are hoping the inaugural Formula 5000 World Series will attract the biggest field of these iconic machines for decades, with promises of entries from the USA, from the UK and Europe and Australia. And if that wasn’t enough for fans, the ‘pursuit’ event which was popular with fans in 2014 will again be a feature on the programme – with an F1 BRM starring in that.
For tickets to the Festival, go to www.nzfmr.co.nz – Early Bird specials are available until the end of November.
