TAUPO HISTORIC GP MEETING
Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park
Taupō
Jan 19-20 2019
First race of the weekend for the SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at the Taupo Historic Grand Prix meeting at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park today and pole man Ken Smith (Lola T332) continued on his winning way despite intense competition from fellow front row starter Michael Collins (McRae GM1) and fast-finishing UK-based series regular Greg Thornton (Chevron B24).
Smith and Collins (the latter back in his ex Evan Noyes McRae GM1 after driving the newly finished ex Graham McRae/Dexter Dunlop Leda LT27 at the opening series round at Pukekohe in November last year) quickly pulled away from Thornton, who qualified third and ran third, while Brett Willis (Lola T330) settled into fourth place ahead of Glenn Richards (Lola T400), and the Lola T332s of David Banks and Tony Galbraith.
As the race progressed Smith started to struggle with tyre grip in the hot mid-afternoon conditions.
Collins also found his car struggling for rear grip, allowing Thornton to catch the pair and make it an impressive three-car battle-pack on the run to the flag with Thornton setting his fastest race lap - a 1.27.38 - with just two laps to go.
Smith and Collins were the only other drivers to crack the 1.28.00 barrier in the race, with Collins claiming the fastest lap of the race - a 1.27.253 – on the third lap as he and Smith (who also did his best race lap of 1.27.373) on lap 3) still had some decent grip in their tyres.
Behind them Brett Willis had a lonely race to fourth ahead of Glenn Richards who finished fifth.
David Banks had actually passed Richards for fifth with two laps to go only to overcook it into the sweeper at the top end of the course and spun.
He was able to get going again but on the last corner on the last lap was dispatched to 7th place by fellow Lola T332 driver Tony Galbraith.
That left Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) and class new face Kevin Ingram (Lola T332) to cross the line in eighth and ninth place respectively with Tony Roberts in the Class 2 McLaren M10B completing the field after losing half a lap to a spin on the first lap.
Ken Smith's T332 heads the field.
Fast Company/Jim Lester.
1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 1.26.690
2. Michael Collins (McRae GM1) 1.26.851
3. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) 1.27.944
4. Glenn Richards (Lola T400) 1.28.399
5. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 1.28.508
6. David Banks (Lola T332) 1.28.531
7. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 1.29.154
8. Tony Galbraith (Lola T332) 1.30.055
9. Kevin Ingram (Lola T332) 1.33.440
10. Tony Roberts (McLaren M10B) 1.36.035
Race 1 (Sat 8 laps)
1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 8 laps
2. Michael Collins (McRae GM1) +1.246
3. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) +0.843
4. Brett Willis (Lola T330) +13.277
5. Glenn Richards (Lola T400) +23.036
6. Tony Galbraith (Lola T332) +31.202
7. David Banks (Lola T332) +32.261
8. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) +32.533
9. Kevin Ingram (Lola T332) +52.312
10. Tony Roberts (McLaren M10B) +1.32.660
2018/19 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Calendar:
Rnd 3. 25-27 Jan 2019 - HRC/TRS – Hampton Downs NZ - Short Track, Waikato, NZ.
Rnd 4. 2-3 Feb 2019 - Skope Classic - Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, Christchurch, NZ.
Rnd 5. 23-24 Mar 2019 – HRC Legends of Speed Hampton Downs NZ - Short Track, Waikato, NZ.
Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park
Taupō
Jan 19-20 2019
First race of the weekend for the SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series at the Taupo Historic Grand Prix meeting at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park today and pole man Ken Smith (Lola T332) continued on his winning way despite intense competition from fellow front row starter Michael Collins (McRae GM1) and fast-finishing UK-based series regular Greg Thornton (Chevron B24).
Smith and Collins (the latter back in his ex Evan Noyes McRae GM1 after driving the newly finished ex Graham McRae/Dexter Dunlop Leda LT27 at the opening series round at Pukekohe in November last year) quickly pulled away from Thornton, who qualified third and ran third, while Brett Willis (Lola T330) settled into fourth place ahead of Glenn Richards (Lola T400), and the Lola T332s of David Banks and Tony Galbraith.
As the race progressed Smith started to struggle with tyre grip in the hot mid-afternoon conditions.
Collins also found his car struggling for rear grip, allowing Thornton to catch the pair and make it an impressive three-car battle-pack on the run to the flag with Thornton setting his fastest race lap - a 1.27.38 - with just two laps to go.
Smith and Collins were the only other drivers to crack the 1.28.00 barrier in the race, with Collins claiming the fastest lap of the race - a 1.27.253 – on the third lap as he and Smith (who also did his best race lap of 1.27.373) on lap 3) still had some decent grip in their tyres.
Behind them Brett Willis had a lonely race to fourth ahead of Glenn Richards who finished fifth.
David Banks had actually passed Richards for fifth with two laps to go only to overcook it into the sweeper at the top end of the course and spun.
He was able to get going again but on the last corner on the last lap was dispatched to 7th place by fellow Lola T332 driver Tony Galbraith.
That left Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) and class new face Kevin Ingram (Lola T332) to cross the line in eighth and ninth place respectively with Tony Roberts in the Class 2 McLaren M10B completing the field after losing half a lap to a spin on the first lap.
Ken Smith's T332 heads the field.
Fast Company/Jim Lester.
2018/19 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ Tasman Cup Revival Series
Qualifying1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 1.26.690
2. Michael Collins (McRae GM1) 1.26.851
3. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) 1.27.944
4. Glenn Richards (Lola T400) 1.28.399
5. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 1.28.508
6. David Banks (Lola T332) 1.28.531
7. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 1.29.154
8. Tony Galbraith (Lola T332) 1.30.055
9. Kevin Ingram (Lola T332) 1.33.440
10. Tony Roberts (McLaren M10B) 1.36.035
Race 1 (Sat 8 laps)
1. Ken Smith (Lola T332) 8 laps
2. Michael Collins (McRae GM1) +1.246
3. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) +0.843
4. Brett Willis (Lola T330) +13.277
5. Glenn Richards (Lola T400) +23.036
6. Tony Galbraith (Lola T332) +31.202
7. David Banks (Lola T332) +32.261
8. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) +32.533
9. Kevin Ingram (Lola T332) +52.312
10. Tony Roberts (McLaren M10B) +1.32.660
2018/19 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Calendar:
Rnd 3. 25-27 Jan 2019 - HRC/TRS – Hampton Downs NZ - Short Track, Waikato, NZ.
Rnd 4. 2-3 Feb 2019 - Skope Classic - Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, Christchurch, NZ.
Rnd 5. 23-24 Mar 2019 – HRC Legends of Speed Hampton Downs NZ - Short Track, Waikato, NZ.