F5000 finale set for spectacular NZ conclusion
The final round of the NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is set for a thrilling conclusion at Teretonga Park on April 11-13 as part of the George Begg Festival in Invercargill.
A highly competitive six-round season across 2024/25 will come down to an epic conclusion with the spectacular F5000 machines of yesteryear.
The heritage round in Invercargill celebrates the life of George Begg, a Southland engineer and race car constructor who took on the world from his humble Drummond workshop.
Tony Galbraith is looking to come from behind and snatch the F5000 title in the finale. Image: Euan Cameron
11 F5000 machines will contest the finale in the Open and A (pre 1972) categories, with the Lola machines having previously swept up Round 5 at Hampton Downs last month.
Sitting on top of the OPEN category table is Kevin Ingram (main image: by Matt Smith) in his Lola T332 HU48R Frissbee Can-Am car, but his 20 point lead is far from assailable, with the Lola T332 HU38A of Tony Galbraith, and the Lola T332 K3 of Glenn Richards (57 points back) still in the title frame.
The two category A McLaren’s will fight to the final race for the 2024/25 class title. Image: Matt Smith
In the A category, the narrative between the two McLaren’s of Frank Karl and Tony Roberts has been a tight one all year, with the M10B of Karl holding a slender 6 point advantage over Roberts; M10A.
A few popular returning machines for the finale include the McRae GM1 004 driven by Michael Hay, and the McRae GM1 009, piloted by Steve Ross of Quicksilver Racing. Both the McRae machines have competitive speed, and will provide some nerves for the front running Lola’s.
Former V8 Supercars driver Steven Richards will also be on grid, steering the Begg FM5/2 (known as the ‘heir and a spare’ run by McCully, Baker, Talbot, and Nitschke), with another Begg 018 to be driven by Jonny Reid of A1GP fame. The latter machine was the 18th car built by Begg, first raced by Jim Murdoch and previously owned by Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger.
The weekend schedule includes practice and qualifying on Friday with two 10 lap races on Saturday and again on Sunday.
The circuit layout, rich in heritage and unchanged in spirit since the F5000 heyday, will provide the perfect setting for these classic cars to stretch their legs one last time this 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.
Series points (after round five of six):
Open category Overall
1 #30 Kevin Ingram – Lola T332 317
2 #88 Tony Galbraith – Lola T332 297
3 #63 Glenn Richards – Lola T332 260
4 #96 Michael Hey – McRae GM1 204
5 #48 Bruce Kett – Lola T332 153
6 #20 Tim Rush – McLaren M22 143
7 #5 Steve Ross – McRae GM1 133
8 #22 Michael Collins – Leda GM1 127
9 #50 David Banks – Lola T332 115
10 #91 Codie Banks – Talon MR1 101
11 #2 Grant Martin – Talon MR1A 101
12 #19 Brett Willis – Lola T332 93
13 #33 Shayne Windelburn – Lola T400 60
14 #29 Aaron Burson – McRae GM1 35
A category
1 #12 Frank Karl – McLaren M10B 333
2 #7 Tony Roberts – McLaren M10A 327
3 #9 Toby Annabell McLaren M10B 174
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