S5000 fleet for sale

S5000 is up for sale with Garry Rogers Motorsport looking to sell the entire remaining fleet of the spectacular open-wheelers.

A total of 16 chassis that raced in S5000 from 2019-2023 in the all-Australian V8-powered category, plus the spare parts inventory, are available for sale to both domestic and international interested parties.

S5000 has not raced since the end of 2023 when Aaron Cameron took four wins on the bounce to snare the title.

Faced with Supercars licensing issues, unresolved for two years, which prevented even double champion Joey Mawson from accepting a Supercars co-drive, Garry and Barry Rogers decided to ‘park’ the cars for 2024 and re-evaluate options.

The last S5000 race was the 2023 Adelaide 500. Image: RACE PROJECT

GRM is now looking to sell the cars that are combination of an FIA-homologated monocoque produced by Onroak-Ligier (JSF3 chassis), mated to a 5.2-litre Ford-based V8 engine and six-speed Holinger gearbox as they focus on Trans Am and TCR (whose category management is also up for grabs).

The S5000 concept was the brainchild of Chris Lambden, who built the prototype before the build project was undertaken by GRM.

He has, over recent months, been formulating independent plans to relaunch the open-wheel category and would love to work with any new owner, if that is the case, on getting it back on track.

S5000 at Bathurst – the category was subsequently banned from the Mountain – the only category ever banned – on ‘safety’ grounds. Image: ARG/KALISZ

“It is no surprise that Garry and Barry are doing this ­– it’s been an option for a while – and I share their frustration with the way ARG and in particular S5000 have been treated over the last few years,” he told Auto Action.

“However, I have been, over the last few months, quietly working on a project that I’m hoping could relaunch the category in a new and interesting format and scenario, doing what I wanted to do from the start, which is running something over the summer when the Northern Hemisphere is all covered in snow and thus attracting overseas driver interest …

Giancarlo Fisichella in the S5000 hot seat. Image: Jack Martin Photography

“The Rogers are aware of that and have said they would make the cars available. If there is a change of ownership, I would be very happy to talk to whoever that may be.

“Based on the response it got when first launched, I’m sure the category has something worthwhile to offer Australian motorsport.”

When S5000 was in full swing, it attracted former Ferrari Formula 1 stars such as Rubens Barrichello and Giancarlo Fisichella, while Supercars drivers Will Brown, Thomas Randle and James Golding also took part in the early days.

S5000 supported the 2020 (abandoned) and 2022 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix events. Covid (2020) cost the category a full season and it was when things resumed that the issues with Supercars and Motorsport Australia began to affect entrant numbers, leading to the ‘parking’ of the category this year.

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