SMIH TOPS TIME SHEETS AT PUKEKOHE

Taking up where he left off at the first of the two New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - Bruce McLaren at the new Hampton Downs circuit last weekend, evergreen New Zealand racing driver Ken Smith (Lola T430) topped the time sheets today in qualifying this afternoon for the fourth round of the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival motor racing series at the second Festival meeting at Pukekohe's Pukekohe Park Raceway this weekend.

Under a baking hot sun the 68-year-old set a fastest lap of 55.078 to trump fastest Hampton Downs qualifier Chris Hyde (McRae GM1), visiting British driver Mark Dwyer (Lola T332) and 2009/10 series points leader Steve Ross (McRae GM1)

Proving just how well prepared the revitalised 1970s-era stock block Chev V8 engined Formula 5000 single-seaters are and how well their custodians are driving them, 14 of the 30 plus drivers contesting this weekend's MSC series round at the Festival of New Zealand Motor Racing - Bruce McLaren meeting lapped the high-speed 2.841 km circuit under the minute mark.

Particularly impressive was British visitor Michael Whatley who set the ninth quickest time of 58.007 in one of the earlier Class A F5000 cars.

This weekend there will again be four races for the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Formula 5000s with two eight lap races on Saturday, a third eight lap race on Sunday morning and a final 15 lap race for the Tasman Grand Prix trophy on Sunday afternoon.

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, Pacifica, Toll Holdings, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.

MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series qualifier Ken Smith (Lola T430) to go with the qualifying report from Rnd 4 of the MSC series - Fast Company/Alex Mitchell