An unprecedented turnout of Formula 5000 cars looks set to secure the 2015 Gulf Oil Howden Ganley Formula 5000 Festival’s place in motorsport history as one of the largest ever gatherings of the iconic race cars.
If all cars that have been entered for the racing and those set to be part of a Formula 5000 and Formula One display turn up, then organisers are confident fans will see 50 plus of the V8, 10 and V12 powered machines, with cars covering all years of the F5000 formula’s life, and most if not all of the manufacturers who built cars for the series which ran in various guises in the USA, Europe and Australasia between 1968 and 1982.
The 2015 event – which stretches over the weekends of January 16-18 and 23-25 at the Hampton Downs circuit in the North Waikato – is a celebration of both the Formula 5000 type of racing car and driver Howden Ganley. Unheralded Kiwi Ganley’s story is a fascinating one that took the former team mechanic to sports cars, F5000 and the dizzy heights of Formula One.
It also marks the first ‘Formula 5000 World Series’ – the champion of which will be crowned after the last race of the second weekend of the Festival.
At least one full grid of Formula 5000s will race during the Festival, and that could mean as many as 35 of the earth-shaking single seaters roaring around the Hampton Downs track almost five seconds a lap quicker than the best ‘V8 taxi’ is capable of.
Heading the entry for cars racing is Kiwi legend Kenny Smith – well into his seventies now and still the man to beat in his ex-Danny Ongais Interscope Racing Lola T332. The car is not only one of the fastest in Kenny’s hands, but is arguably the best presented Formula 5000 car in the world today, having been rebuilt with fastidious attention to detail and quality by Smith’s long time engineer Barry Miller. Other Lolas scheduled to race include Russell Greer’s ex Graeme Lawrence T332, Sefton Gibb in the ex-Tuck Thomas T332, current F5000 series champion Andy Higgins in his Lola T400 and Phil Mauger in the ex-Teddy Pilette Team VDS T430. Pilette, one of the stars of the F5000 era, will be one of the VIP guests at the event. The early years of Lola will be represented by the fast Alan Dunkley in his T140.
New Zealand-built Begg and McRae chassis also feature strongly, as do McLaren models. Tony Roberts debuts his immaculate McLaren M10A, while Frank Karl runs his ex-Alan McKechnie M10B. Grant Clearwater is down to race the ex-Roy Lane hillclimbing spec M10A/B, Poul Christie is out in his regular ex Gethin M10B. Danie Jacobs from Hamilton will have his ex Kipp Ackermann M10B on display and expat Kiwi David Mitchell from Saudi Arabia will drive his M01B in demonstration runs. F5000 regular Tim Rush is set to run the later M22 from 1972.
Watch out also too for Festival regular Greg Thornton in his iconic ex-Peter Gethin 1974 NZ GP winning Chevron B24, a fantastic and unique machine and the only non-F1 car ever to take on and defeat Formula One machinery in an international race.
Along with the cars actually racing, there will also be a number doing demonstration runs and another significant number on static display throughout both weekends in the Hamptons conferencing facility in the circuit paddock.
“There are potential 65 plus cars, but we have realistic expectations for just over 60, and there is still time for more to commit,” explained Festival Chairman Jim Barclay.
“Quite simply, there is nowhere else in the world where you will be able to see such a fine collection of Formula 5000 and F1 cars running and on display.”
Along with the Formula 5000 content, the demonstration sessions will also see as many as six Formula One cars on track, and there is a huge Historic Muscle Car entry with 8 cars heading to NZ from the historic Australian TransAm series. A packed programme for the two weekends will also include a drivers parade of many of the NZ, Australian and UK Formula 5000 stars from the past and a spectacular NZ Warbirds display on Sunday 25th January featuring WW2 fighter aircraft.
For further information, please check out www.nzfmr.co.nz
