New Zealand was one of the first countries outside the United States to embrace the Formula 5000 motor racing class. So it is entirely appropriate that at the second annual Taupo Historic Grand Prix meeting this weekend, drivers contesting the third round of the SAS Autoparts MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series will be the first in the world to actively mark the 50th anniversary of the iconic stock-block V8 single-seater category.
The Archibalds Historic Touring Car Series heads to Taupo this weekend and if the response from race-goers there is anything like that at the 4 Guys Autobarn Legends of Bathurst meeting at the Hampton Downs last weekend the future of the country’s latest retro racing category is assured.
As the BNT V8s head to Teretonga this weekend for round four of the Championship, Andre Heimgartner will be looking to continue his fast form in what could be another weather affected race weekend.
Cambridge’s Nick Ross has come away from the third round of the BNT V8s at Ruapuna near Christchurch second for the weekend.
Qualifying third on Saturday, Ross went on to race in the searing heat taking his Total Lubricants Nissan Altima to two second placings and a third in the weekend’s three races.
A couple of minutes after the clock had ticked over to 1800, just as the sun was setting and the dusk was rolling over Chang International Circuit, Graeme Dowsett gunned the #77 Team NZ Porsche 997 GT3 out of Turn 12 and down the couple of hundred metres to the finishline for the 188th time that afternoon and deliver GT Cup victory in the 6 Hours of Buriram, the third and penultimate round of Asian Le Mans 2017/18, after a race that had gone like clockwork.
The second round of the New Zealand Formula 1600 Championship turned out to be an early birthday present for Aucklander Josh Bethune. Turning 15 on Tuesday, Bethune (Mygale) won two of three races at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park just outside of Christchurch over the weekend and finished runner up in the third. This was enough for him to win the Wigram Cup and take a four-point lead in the national championship over Callum Hedge (Mygale) with Bailey Paterson (Van Diemen Stealth) in third.
The combination of stars and cars proved a winning one for the new Archibalds Historic Touring Car class at the big 4 Guys Autobarn Legends of Bathurst historic motor racing at Hampton Downs over the weekend.
Andre Heimgartner has taken the overall win at the third round of the BNT V8s held at Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna this weekend.
Throughout the weekends three races Heimgartner claimed two wins and a third placing.
Victory in the Lady Wigram Trophy race has propelled local teenager Marcus Armstrong into the lead of the Castrol Toyota Racing Series after three races at the Ruapuna track, Christchurch this weekend.
The 17 year old, who won the Italian Formula 4 title last year, took the lead from the start and wasn’t headed in the race for the historic trophy which dates back to 1951 and whose past winners include Bruce McLaren, Jim Clark and Stirling Moss.
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