12/11/2022

LOLA ON TOP AT MANFIELD ON SATURDAY

Kevin Ingram gets his 2022/23 NZ F5000 Series off to a great start.

Local ‘second-time-around’ racer Kevin Ingram (Lola T332) got his 2022/23 SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series campaign off to a great start with an absolutely dominant pole-to-chequered-flag win in the first race of the new season at the big MG Classic historic motor racing meeting in Feilding yesterday afternoon.

In a manner virtually identical to the one which netted him his first pole/chequers double at the final round of the 2021/22 SAS Autoparts Series earlier this year, Ingram set a best lap of 1.07.16 in the category’s qualifying session (very) early on Saturday morning.

Then in the race, Ingram stormed away from fellow front row starter Tony Galbraith (Lola T332) and the rest of the 12-strong field to cross the finish line well ahead of third quickest qualifier Glenn Richards (LolaT400) who finally won his race-long battle for second place with Tony Galbraith on the last lap.

Making a big impression a little further back in the field meanwhile, was Class A stalwart, Tony Roberts, who qualified his favoured ‘high-wing’ McLaren M10A 9th and crossed the finish line in the race in 7th place.

The SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Serries is organised and run with the support of sponsors SAS Autoparts, MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialised Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Avon Tyres, Webdesign and Exide Batteries.

Qualifying.
1. KEVIN INGRAM (LOLA T332) 1m07.16
2. TONY GALBRAITH (LOLA T332) 1m07.71
3. GLENN RICHARDS (LOLA T400) 1m09.22
4. GRANT MARTIN (TALON MR1A) 1m09.62
5. RUSSELL GREER (LOLA T332) 1m10.84
6. SHAYNE WINDELBURN (LOLA T400) 1m11.89
7. BRETT WILLIS (LOLA T332) 1m12.17
8. TIM RUSH (McLAREN M22) 1m13.17
9. TONY ROBERTS (McLAREN M10A 300-09) 1m13.32
10. BRUCE KETT (LOLA T332) 1m14.06
11. ALISTAIR CHALMERS (CHEVRON B32) 1m14.08
12. TOBY ANNABELL (McLAREN M10B) 1m21.24

Race 1 (Sat pm)
1. KEVIN INGRAM (LOLA T332) 6m47.54
2. GLENN RICHARDS (LOLA T400) 6m48.23 +0.69s
3. TONY GALBRAITH (LOLA T332) 6m51.90 +4.36s
4. BRETT WILLIS (LOLA T332) 6m52.36 +4.82s
5. RUSSELL GREER (LOLA T332) 6m55.54 +8.00s
6. SHAYNE WINDELBURN (LOLA T400) 6m55.86 +8.32s
7. TONY ROBERTS (McLaren M10A 300-09) 7m08.95 +21.
8. ALISTAIR CHALMERS (CHEVRON B32) 7m14.94 +27.40s
9. TIM RUSH (McLaren M22-3) 7m16.53 +28.99s
10. TOBY ANNABELL (McLaren M10B) 7m41.18 +53.64s
11. BRUCE KETT (LOLA T332)
DNF: GRANT MARTIN (TALON MR1/A)

2022/23 SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Calendar
Rnd 1: 11-13 Nov 2022– The Sound MG Classic,Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon Feilding NZ.
Rnd 2: 20-22 Jan 2023 – Historic Grand Prix – Taupo International Motorsport Park Taupo NZ.
Rnd 3: 03-05 Feb 2023 - Skope Classic - Mike Pero Motorsport Park Ruapuna Christchurch NZ.
Rnd 4: 24-26 Feb 2023 – HRC Jim Palmer meeting Pukekohe Park Raceway Pukekohe NZ.
Rnd 5: 17-19 Mar 2023 – HRC Legends of Speed meeting Hampton Downs Nth Waikato NZ