Tasman F5000 Cup

	Points leader Steve Ross leading the field All Photos Bill Todd

By the time you read this, the Tasman Cup F5000 Champion will have been decided at the Melbourne Grand Prix, where the cars put in an appearance for the second year. After Kenny Smith missed the opening event with car dramas, and although he's won 10 of the last 14 races, Steve Ross still lays six points ahead.

Smith Starts As He Means To Go On


Evergreen New Zealand motor racing veteran Ken Smith (Lola T430) continued his winning streak with pole position in the qualifier at the penultimate round of the 2009/10 series at the biennial Shannon's Classic meeting at Australia's Phillip Island motor racing circuit, taking nearly a second off his main rival 2007/08 series champion Chris Hyde and just over a second from current series points leader Steve Ross (both McRae GM1).


Hyde is back behind the wheel after a sabbatical last season, but after winning the first round at Manfeild he has struggled with engine issues and currently lies sixth in the points standings behind Smith, Ross, and Lola T332 drivers Ian Clements, Sefton Gibb and Roger Williams.

Quickest of the visiting UK drivers was Mark Dwyer (Lola T332) closely followed by compatriot and by far the quickest Class A (for older model cars) entrant, Greg Thornton in a Surtees TS11. 


On race day the two F5000 leaders took a win apiece, with the last round of the Championship to be played out at the Melbourne Grand Prix. Hyde grabbed an early lead in both races, going on to win the first one but finding himself an early retirement from the second courtesy of an errant ignition wire. Race one, after an early Safety Car intervention - when several cars took to the grass to avoid David Abbott's spinning Lola T430  - settled down quickly once order was restored, with Hyde retaining the lead to the chequered flag and Smith setting the fastest race lap on his way to second.


For a full report see out April issue