2012/13 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Rnds 4
NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating Denny Hulme meetings
Hampton Downs


26-01-13

DAY 1 REPORT

ROSS BACK IN FRONT AT SECOND HAMPTON DOWNS MEETING

Defending MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series champion Steve Ross (McRae GM1) was back on the top step of the podium on the first day of competition at the second NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating Denny Hulme at Hampton Downs this afternoon.

After pipping first round race winner Ken Smith (Lola T332) in qualifying in the morning Ross got the jump on Smith and series returnee Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) in the weekend's first MSC series race and was never headed, setting the fastest race lap on his way to crossing the finish line after eight scintillating laps just under a half a second ahead of Smith and just over five seconds in front of Higgins with first NZ Festival round fast man Clark Proctor (March 73A-1) fourth, and the first of the visiting contingent of British drivers, Greg Thornton (McRae GM1), fifth.

Ross twice finished second to Smith at the first NZ Festival round at Hampton Downs last weekend and made no secret of his disappointment both in not qualifying better - he ended up third behind Proctor and Smith - and having to play second fiddle to Smith in the races.

This time there was no holding the Dunedin man and after the race a frown had been replaced with a wide smile.

"Yes," he grinned,"there was a bit of a point to prove after last weekend. This time though we had a really good qualifying session this and we did enough to stay in front in the race. It's always good to beat Kenny of course, particularly on his home turf!'

Smith, the 71-year-old veteran now back behind the wheel of the Lola T332 he co-owns with crew members Barry Miller and Phil Richardson, was able to bridge the gap when the pair caught the tail-enders of the 27-strong field but the flag came out before he could get within striking distance.

Smith was not exactly disappointed with second place though, reckoning that in Sunday's longer feature he will have a better chance.

"Steve had the same sort of pace last weekend, it's just that this time he got off the line better. He's got some wicked straight line speed but I think my car is working better than his and over 15 laps I think I could hunt him down."

And Proctor?

After beating both Ross and Smith to pole position at the first NZ Festival meeting last weekend the popular Auckland all-rounder experimented with a new nosecone this weekend, and reaped the reward or paid the price, depending on your perspective.

"As a team we decided this weekend to use the meeting as a test weekend to try and learn a bit more about our car. So we fitted a new Formula 1 nose cone that came with the car. Like everyone this weekend we've been struggling with front end grip and we knew it was a big call but we put it on for qualifying, changed springs and a few other things and sure enough we picked up a huge amount of front grip. The problem was that we lost rear grip and the car was so unstable I couldn't use full throttle."

That meant Proctor lined up in fifth place on the grid. An aggressive start saw him make up two places on the first lap, but entering the second he ran wide exiting the first turn and promptly lost those places back, but he persevered and made one back to cross the finish line in fourth place.

Behind Ross, Smith and Higgins, Proctor spent the race working his way back past Greg Thornton (McRae GM1) and Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) while Melbourne's Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) found himself following the high-wing Class A Lola T140 of category young gun Alan Dunkley.

Dunkley went even quicker in qualifying at this weekend's meeting and forced his way through to seventh on the first lap. Early on he easily led Zazryn who in turn had an advantage over Brett Willis (Lola T330), and Australian Aaron Lewis (Matich A50) but towards the end of the race Zazryn found a way past Dunkley to cross the line in seventh position.

An early casualty was British visitor Michael Whatley (Lola T300) who pitted when he lost oil pressure. Local class stalwart Poul Christie (McLaren M10B) also pulled into the pits, but in his case it was because of his concerns with the low grip levels off the racing line on a couple of corners resealed overnight after the track surface broke up on Friday.

Making history for the second weekend in a row, meanwhile, were Talon drivers David Banks and Aaron Burson. Only five Talons were made and at the moment only two are in race-ready condition - and those two are being raced at Hampton Downs this weekend.

"It's amazing isn't it," said Banks who finished 16th in today's race." It's probably been 30 years since there have been two Talons on the same track at the same time."

Finally, enjoying a better run this weekend was American veteran Eric Haga. Last weekend the 72-year-old F5000 series original struggled with fuel and handling issues and didn't finish a race. This weekend he qualified in 25rd place and ran a strong race to finish 23th.

"It was a clogged pressure relief valve in fuel injection system," explained Haga. "But everything is fine now."

The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialized Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Avon Tyres and Exide. It continues with two more races tomorrow.

Ends

2012/13 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Rnd 5 NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating Denny Hulme meetings Hampton Downs Northern Waikato Fri-Sun Jan 25-27 2013
Qualifying
1. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1.00.004
2. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 1.00.716
3. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) 1.01.255
4. Greg Thornton (McRae GM1) 1.01.847
5. Clark Proctor (March 73A-1) 1.02.200
6. Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) 1.02.223
7. Peter Dunn (March 73A/05) 1.02.389
8. Michael Whatley (Lola T300) 1.02.741
9. Chris Lambden (McRae GM1) 1.02.880
10. Alan Dunkley (Lola T140) 1.03.081
11. Paul Zazryn (Lola T332) 1.03.183
12. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 1.03.563
13. Aaron Lewis (Matich A50)1.04.106
14. Russell Greer (Lola T332) 1.04.662
15. Aaron Burson (Talon MR1) 1.04.671
16. Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) 1.04.794
17. Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400) 1.04.970
18. Bryan Sala (Matich A50/51) 1.05.293
19. Bruce Leeson (McLaren M10B) 1.05.408
20. David Banks (Talon MR1) 1.06.464
21. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 1.06.771
22. Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) 1.07.801
23. Rod Carroll (Lola T140) 1.07.923
24. Bill Hemming (Elfin MR8AC) 1.10.469
25. Eric Haga (Lola T190) 1.12.918
26. Poul Christie (McLaren M10B) 1.15.354
27. John Bryant (Lola T140) 1.17.897

Race 1 (8 laps)
1. Steve Ross 8:19.255
2. Ken Smith +0.426
3. Andrew Higgins +5.385
4. Clark Proctor +8.520
5. Greg Thornton +20.852
6. Mark Dwyer +20.974
7. Paul Zazryn +24.819
8. Alan Dunkley +26.237
9. Brett Wilis +28.804
10. Peter Dunn +34.846
11. Chris Lambden +42.610
12. Aaron Burson +47.281
13. Russell Greer +48.308
14. Peter Sundberg 49.187
15. Shayne Windelburn +50.040
16. David Banks +55.509
17. Aaron Lewis +55.984
18. Bryan Sala +1.00.559
19. Warwick Mortimer +1 lap
20. Rod Carroll +1 lap
21. Peter Burson +1 lap
22. Bill Hemming +1 lap
23. Eric Haga +1 lap
24. John Bryant +1 lap
dnf Poul Christie, Bruce Leeson, Michael Whatley.
Fastest lap. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1:00.813

 

Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000 Association www.F5000.co.nz For more information about the 2012/13 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919 or via e-mail on ross@fastcompany.co.nz

EDITOR'S NOTE: Hi-res jpgs of cars and drivers competing in the 2011/12 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Revival Series are available by e-mailing Ross MacKay at ross@fastcompany.co.nz

 

© Charles Rogers 2006-09