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F5000 finale set for spectacular NZ conclusion

By Timothy Neal

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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