2011 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series UK Tour
Classic Sports Car Club meeting
Oulton Park
Cheshire
Sat June 25 2011

Young gun Michael Lyons (Lola T400) was unchallenged in winning both MSC F5000 category races at the Classic Sports Car Club's classic race meeting at Oulton Park in the UK on Saturday, starting each from pole and setting the fastest race lap on the way to the chequered flag.

In the first, fellow front-row starter Neil Glover (Lola T330/332) and Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) disputed second position with the nod going to Glover as Thornton struggled through the latter stages with gear selection problems, while in the second, young Auckland driver Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) stormed home to claim second from Lyon's Jnr's father Frank (Gurney Eagle) and Blenheim's Russell Greer (Lola T332).

Higgins and Greer are part of a seven-strong group of MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series drivers contesting two meetings in the UK this Northern Hemisphere summer, with the group enjoying mixed results at the Classic Sports Car Club's annual Oulton Park International circuit meeting.

Christchurch driver David Abbott (Lola T430) was a non-starter, having damaged his car in practice on Friday, while Aucklander Peter Burson (McRae GM1) fell foul of the strict noise regulations in force at the Cheshire circuit.

Andrew Higgins was the best of the Kiwi contingent in qualifying but was forced out of the first race with what turned out to be contaminated fuel. Russell Greer, who qualified eighth, was also forced out of that race, in his case by gear selection problems. Both drivers were able to address the issues between the two MSC series races, however, and go on to card their top four finishes in the second race.

Compatriots Stan Redmond and Warwick Mortimer were not so lucky, Redmond pitting early in the second race on the mistaken belief that a black flag was for him, then crashing heavily once he was back out on the track, and Mortimer - who in the first race had impressed in his older Class A car in a three-way scrap for eighth place with Aaron Burson and Frank Lyons - tangling with local driver Mike Sidgwick.

The New Zealanders now head south to the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent (near London) for the Derek Bell Trophy races at the Historic Sports Car Club's annual Superprix meeting.

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.

Qualifying

1. Michael Lyons (Lola T400) 1.34.603
2. Neil Glover (Lola T332) 1.38.576
3. Frank Lyons (Gurney Eagle) 1.39.959
4. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24 1.41.733
5. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) 1.41.862
6. Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) 1.42.531
7. John Rand (Lola T460) 1.49.579
8. Russell Greer (Lola T332) 1.49.772
9. Keith Norris (Chevron B49) 1.50.252
10. Tom Thornton (Lola T460) 1.51.148
11. Stan Redmond (Lola T332) 1.51.421
12. Mike Sidgwick (Trojan T101) 1.52.561
13. Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) 1.54.106
14. Aaron Burson (Talon MR1-A) 2.01.561
15. Antony Taylor (McRae GM1) 2.15.637
16. Judy Lyons (Lola T332) 2.50.804

Race 1 (13 laps)

1. Michael Lyons 20.56.646
2. Neil Glover +1.04.119
3. Greg Thornton +1.31.083
4. Stan Redmond +1 lap
5. Keith Norris + 1 lap
6. John Rand +1 lap
7. Mike Sidgwick +1 lap
8. Warwick Mortimer +1 lap
9. Aaron Burson +1 lap
10. Frank Lyons + 2 laps
11. Antony Taylor +3 laps
12. Judy Lyons + 5 laps
DNF: Russell Greer, Andrew Higgins, Mark Dwyer.

Fastest lap: Michael Lyons 1.34.869

Race 2 (13 laps)

1. Michael Lyons 20.49.772
2. Andrew Higgins +1.23.579
3. Frank Lyons +1.23.740
4. Russell Greer +1 lap
5. Keith Norris +1 lap
6. Aaron Burson +2 laps
7. Judy Lyons +4 laps
DNF: Stan Redmond, John Rand, Warwick Mortimer, Greg Thornton, Mike Sidgwick.

Fastest lap: Michael Lyons 1.34775.

Calendar:

Rnd 1: June 25 2011 Classic Sports Car Club meeting Oulton Park Cheshire.
Rnd 2: July 01-03 2011 HSCC Brands Hatch Superprix meeting, Brands Hatch Kent