NZFMR Ferrari Festival
Hampton Downs Nth Waikato
Jan 17-19 & Jan 24-16 2014

Visiting British driver Michael Lyons (Lola T400) completed a winning trifecta of the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races on the second day of competition at the first New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs today (Sunday Jan 19).

In the continued absence of veteran Kiwi ace Ken Smith (Lola T332) who blew an engine while leading Saturday's 8-lap encounter, 23-year-old second-generation racer Lyons ran away with both Sunday races, underlining his superiority by lowering his own outright track record from the 59.840 he set in 2012 to the 59.483 he set in the eight lap race in the morning.

In that race Lyons lead Kiwi counterpart Andrew Higgins (the pair in almost identically liveried 'Viceroy' cars) from start to finish, crossing the line just over five-and-a-half seconds in front with defending series champion Steve Ross in his newly-liveried (now blue) 'Quicksilver' McRae GM1 third and 2012/13 series race winner Clark Proctor (March 73A) making it from the back of the grid (after crown wheel and gearbox problems meant he didn't start Saturday's race) to fourth.

Like Saturday's race Sunday morning's one had to be re-started, in this case after just the one lap thanks to a coming together between Michael Lyons' father Frank (Gurney-Eagle FA74) and Grant Martin (Talon MR1A) as the field streamed into the first corner. Lyons was able to continue but Martin couldn't (damaged rims) and the race was red flagged and re-started.

Class A (for older cars) standout Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8B) again ran third early on before eventually being caught and passed by both Steve Ross and eventually, Clark Proctor. Brett Willis (Lola T330) again ended up best of the mid-field battle-pack in sixth place, ahead of Ian Clements and Frank Lyons, however another coming together saw both Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) and UK visitor Greg Thornton (March 75A) out of the race.

In the 15-lap feature final Michael Lyons was able to further stretch his advantage though this time Clark Proctor made it all the way to second place from P14 (out of 16) on the grid with Steve Ross third and Andrew Higgins slipping back to fourth by the time the flag came out.

Ross went back several places after a half-spin at Turn 1 but was able to gather it up and work his way forward again before the chequered flag was unfurled.

There was disappointment for Michael Whatley, however, the visiting British veteran slowed and eventually stopped as his engine lost power. Brett Willis and Sefton Gibb also failed to finish, the former thanks to a broken throttle linkage, the later a battery issue.

The weekend's races were the first of a total of six MSC series races which will be contested at Hampton Downs this season with another three at the second New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing meeting celebrating Ferrari next weekend.

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, Avon Tyres, Webdesign and Exide.

2013/14 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series

Qualifying

1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 59.445
2. Michael Lyons (Lola T400) 59.514
3. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) 1.00.685
4. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1.00.844
5. Guido Belgiorno-Nettis (Ferrari 156 85T V6 F1) 1.02.063
6. Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8) 1.02.661
7. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 1.02.763
8. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 1.03.245
9. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 1.03.245
10.Greg Thornton (March 75A-1) 1.04.039
11. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 1.04.117
12. Frank Lyons (Gurney-Eagle FA74-01) 1.04.595
13. Grant Martin (Talon MR1A) 1.05.173
14. Calven Bonney (Begg 018) 1.05.538
15. Glenn Richards (Lola T400) 1.06.441
16. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 1.07.334
17. Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) 1.10.490
18. Judy Lyons (Lola T332) 1.27.115
19. Clark Proctor (March 73A) (no time)

Race 1 (Sat 8 laps)

1. Michael Lyons 8.44.887
2. Andrew Higgins +1.793
3. Michael Whatley +6.652
4. Brett Willis +7.167
5. Ian Clements +7.285
6. Steve Ross +9.273
7. Frank Lyons +11.795
8. Aaron Burson +12.016
9. Sefton Gibb +13.151
10. Greg Thornton +14.339
11. Grant Martin +17.721
12. Calven Bonney +20.263
13. Glenn Richards +21.881
14. Peter Burson +22.839
15. Judy Lyons +1 lap
16. Guido Belgiorno-Nettis + 2 laps
17. David Banks + 7 laps
dnf. Ken Smith, dns Clark Proctor

Race 2 (Sun 8 laps)

1. Michael Lyons 8.07.893
2. Andrew Higgins +5.675
3. Steve Ross +10.474
4. Clark Proctor +10.916
5. Mike Whatley +18.334
6. Brett Willis +24.704
7. Ian Clements +26.119
8. Frank Lyons +40.501
9. Guido Belgiorno-Nettis +40.679
10. Calven Bonney +40.838
11. Sefton Gibb +57.070
12. Glenn Richards +59.794
13. Peter Burson +60.392
14. Judy Lyons + 2 laps
dnf. Greg Thornton, Aaron Burson, Warwick Mortimer
dns Grant Martin
New lap record: Michael Lyons 59.483

Race 3 (Sun 15 laps)

1. Michael Lyons 15.18.332
2. Clark Proctor +12.420
3. Steve Ross +15.264
4. Andrew Higgins +19.420
5. Greg Thornton +44.199
6. Guido Belgiorno-Nettis +47.875
7. Ian Clements +49.919
8. Frank Lyons + 1 lap
9. Glenn Richards + 1 lap
10. Peter Burson +1 lap
11. Calven Bonney +2 laps
dnf Brett Willis, Warwick Mortimer, Michael Whatley, Sefton Gibb, Judy Lyons

2013/14 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Calendar

Rnd 1: Nov 8-10 2013 'The Sound' MG Classic Manfeild Feilding
Rnd 2: Jan 17-19 2014 NZFMR Ferrari Festival - 1 Hampton Downs Nth Waikato
Rnd 3: Jan 24-26 2014 NZFMR Ferrari Festival - 2 Hampton Downs Nth Waikato
Rnd 4: Feb 01-02 2014 Skope Classic Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park Christchurch

2013/14 Formula 5000 Australia Cup Series (invitational rounds)

Rnd 1: Aug 31-Sept 01 2013 Muscle Car Masters meeting Sydney Motorsport Park Sydney
Rnd 2: Sept 13-15 2013 Sandown 500 meeting (V8 Supercars) Sandown Melbourne
Rnd 3: Nov 08-10 2013 Sandown Historics meeting Sandown Melbourne
Rnd 4: March 07-09 2014 Phillip Island Classic meeting Phillip Island Melbourne

Photos Fast Company/Alex Mitchell.

MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Series race one winner Michael Lyons (T400) leading second placeman Andrew Higgins (T400) at Hampton Downs this afternoon.



Ken Smith and his Lola T332 returning to the pits on the back of a recovery truck.



MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Series race one winner Michael Lyons leading fellow Lola T400 driver Andrew Higgins (right) and McRae GM1 driver Steve Ross (blue car) into the first turn at Hampton Downs today.



Brett Willis (#16 Lola T330) leads Sefton Gibb (Lola T332).