MSC
New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Event Report
Round
5 - Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park
Christchurch
LYONS
WINS BUT ONLY AFTER ROSS GRABS EARLY RACE LEAD
For two tumultuous laps series points leader Steve Ross (McRae GM1)
led quickest qualifier Michael Lyons (Lola T400) in the first MSC
F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series race on the first day of competition
at the big Skope Classic motor racing meeting in Christchurch this
afternoon.
As it turned out, it was series young gun Lyons who went on to claim
victory - but only after a determined Ross came unstuck on oil dropped
by another car as he braked for the infield right hander.
Initially Ross took the spin on the chin, blaming 'the nut behind
the wheel,' but when he and Lyons swapped notes the truth emerged.
Above:
MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival
Series points leader Steve Ross leading Michael Lyons and the rest
of the 24-strong field into the first corner at the Skope Classic
meeting at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park
"I was definitely putting him under a lot of pressure, and we
had both been getting a bit ragged" said Lyons, " but as
we accelerated out of the hairpin there was a trail of oil and when
Steve stood on the brakes the thing (his car) just went left. I was
right up underneath him when he started going left so I had to ease
out of the brake myself but at least I was able to stay on the track."
With Ross out of the picture Lyons won as he liked, despite slowing
over the last couple of laps as his car's engine went off song.
"Yes," he said," we're still not sure what is wrong
but we cracked a header on the second lap and after a few laps it
started to sound a bit sick. Fingers crossed we will be able to find
out what the problem is and fix it before the next race."
With Lyons out in front and series returnee Ian Clements (Lola T332)
taking over second place from Ross, race interest switched to the
battle for a spot in the top six. Initially the order was Michael
Lyons, Clements, Frank Lyons (Gurney-Eagle), Roger Williams (Lola
T332), David Abbott (Lola T430) and Michael Whatley (Lola T300).
As he proved to be at the second NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating
BMW at Hampton Downs the weekend before, Auckland driver Aaron Burson
(McRae GM1) was the big mover, quickly working his way up the order
from 11th spot on the grid to eventually catch and pass Whatley and
Abbott and cross the finish line in fifth place.
Above:
Harin de Silva was the best
of the visiting American contingent, finishing a strong 10th in his
ex Peter Revson Suretees TS8.
Rotorua driver Brett Willis (Lola T330) ran as high as third in the
first lap but spun at the hairpin. Like Ross he was able to rejoin
the race only to glance off another car under braking for the same
corner only a couple of laps later. Former Lady Wigram Trophy winner
Roger Williams (Lola T332) was also running strongly up front in the
early laps before slowing and eventually heading to the pits.
Behind the battling Abbott and Whatley Lolas, Whatley's compatriot
Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) was having another competitive showing,
leading a mid-field group which consisting of the first of the American
visitors, Harin de Silva (Surtees TS8), Russell Greer (Lola T332),
Stan Redmond (Lola T332) and a fast recovering Steve Ross.
With the bit well-and-truly between his teeth Ross was on a mission,
setting the fastest race lap (despite having to thread through the
traffic) on his way back up through the field. By the fifth lap he
was in ninth place, by the sixth eighth, by the seventh seventh and
by the chequered flag third!
Los Angeles resident de Silva remained the best of the three-man American
contingent, eventually crossing the finish line in 10th with compatriot
Seb Coppola (Lola T192) getting the better of an entertaining battle
with Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) a little further back to finish
16th with Eric Haga in the distinctvie high-wing Lola T190 18th.
Though he is still quite new to the F5000 category de Silva says he
is thoroughly enjoying the experience, and took time out to thank
local racing school proprietor and instructor Andy Neale for the loan
of a Formula Ford single-seater on Thursday.
"Andy let me drive a Formula Ford round here," he said.
"I did 30 laps so I knew which corner was a left and which one
was a right when I got in my own car."
de Silva also said that the tight, technical nature of the Powerbuilt
Tools Raceway circuit meant earlier moel Class A cars like his were
not at as big a disadvantage compared with the later model cars as
they might have been at a faster, more flowing circuit like Hampton
Downs. " Though the older cars don't have as much aero grip the
fact that the corners here are slower means that we can actually keep
up with them through the infield."
Above:
Michael Lyons' winning record
remained intact after Ross spun on oil on the second lap.
Today's race was the first of three for the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival
Series contestants with two more tomorrow, a second eight-lapper in
the morning and a 15-lap feature final in the afternoon.
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, Smith & Davies, Avon
Tyres and Exide. The series continues next weekend at the annual Skope
Classic meeting at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna
Park.
Ends
Photos
courtesy: Fast Company/Alex Mitchell
2011/12 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Qualifying
1. Mick Lyons (Lola T400) 1:17.559
2. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1:18.176
3. Tony Richards (Lola T332) 1:20.074
4. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 1:21.369
5. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 1:21.933
6. Frank Lyons (Gurney-Eagle) 1:22.414
7. Jay Esterer (McRae GM1) 1:22.445
8. David Abbott (Lola T430) 1:22.965
9. Roger Williams (Lola T332) 1:23.417
10. Mike Whatley (Lola T300)1:23.714
11. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 1:24.171
12. Harin de Silva (Surtees TS8)1:24.214
13. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24)1:24.796
14. Russell Greer (Lola T332)1:24.865
15. Lindsay O'Donnell (Begg FM5) 1:25.275
16. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 1:26.128
17. Chris Lambden (McRae GM1) 1:26.293
18. David Arrowsmith (Lotus 70)1:28.633
19. Stan Redmond (Lola T332)1:29.337
20. Tim Rush (McLaren M22) 1:30.567
21. Sebastian Coppola (Lola T192) 1:30.657
22. Phil Mauger (McLaren M23 F1) 1:30.920
23. David Banks (Talon MR1A)1:31.233
24. Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5)1:32.393
25. Eric Haga (Lola T190)1:35.016
26. John Bryant (Lola T140) 1:36.307
27. Judy Lyons (Lola T332) 2:11.210
Race 1 (8 laps)
1. Michael Lyons 8 laps
2. Ian Clements +16.902
3. Steve Ross +27.477
4. Frank Lyons +27.971
5. Aaron Burson +29.118
6. Mike Whatley +29.493
7. David Abbott +32.046
8. Greg Thornton +36.839
9. Russell Greer +38.517
10. Harin de Silva +39.065
11. Stan Redmond +44.024
12. Lindsay O'Donnell +46.200
13. Chris Lambden +53.013
14. Peter Burson +58.077
15. David Banks +59.049
16. Seb Coppola + 1 lap
17. Warwick Mortimer + 1 lap
18. Eric Haga +1 lap
19. Tim Rush + 1 lap
20. Judy Lyons +2 laps
dnf Phil Mauger, John Bryant, Brett Willis, Roger Williams, David
Arrowsmith
Fastest lap: Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1.19.285
Calendar
Rnd 1: Nov 05/06 2011 Wigram Revival meeting, Powerbuilt
Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park Christchurch
Rnd 2: Nov 12-13 2011 MG Classic Manfeild Feilding
Rnd 3: Jan 21-22 2012 NZ Festival of Motor Racing
- BMW meeting x 1 Hampton Downs Auckland
Rnd 4: Jan 28-29 2012 NZ Festival of Motor Racing
- BMW meeting x 2 Hampton Downs Auckland
Rnd 5: Feb 04/05 2012 Skope Classic meeting Powerbuilt
Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park Christchurch
Rnd 6: March 09-11 2012 Phillip Island Classic meeting Phillip
Island Victoria Australia
Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of the New Zealand Formula 5000
Association. www.F5000.co.nz
For more information about the 2011/12 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman
Cup Revival Series contact Ross MacKay via e-mail on ross@fastcompany.co.nz
