Auckland racer David Banks has leapt to an early lead in the SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival in the opening round.
Racing at the annual MG Classic two-day event at Manfeild, Banks took a win and a second place across the weekend’s three races. While 12 cars entered the weekend only 10 made it to the first race. A late deal put Angus Fogg in the Stu Lush Lola T332. Lap times during Friday’s practice indicated the lap record could be re-written. However, that was the end of idea as investigation on why the car started to lose its edge went from a suspected head gasket to piston damage – putting Fogg out of contention for the weekend.
Then during Friday’s practice, the Lola T400 of Glenn Richards dropped an engine valve – putting an end to another car.
Saturday 11 November featured qualifying and the season-opening six-lap race. Setting fastest time in the morning qualifying, Grant Martin in a Talon MR1A knew his mirrors were going to be full of Kevin Ingram’s Lola T332 – the pair setting times split by only 0.05 seconds.
The first race was won by Martin. He took the flag just 0.6 seconds ahead of Ingram.
Sunday’s two races were a six-lapper in the morning and the finale, an eight-lap race in the afternoon.
In the six-lap race Tony Annabell was first away in the McLaren M10B. Then going into lap two Bruce Kett spun his Lola T332. He was unable to restart his engine and a safety car was deployed to recover the stricken Lola.
This bunched the field and negated the race’s handicap start.
When the race resumed the faster cars were bunched right behind the slower ones. Leader Annabell spun leaving the field to surge past. The inevitable closing-laps contact resulted in Codie Banks’ Lola T332 tapping Kevin Ingram’s Lola, sending both cars onto the grass. Both headed to the pits for damage inspection and retirement.
By now Banks was up to second position and overtook the Group A McLaren M10 B of Frank Karl on the penultimate lap.
Last to start and at the back of the melee, Grant Martin (Talon MR1A) had moved to fifth on the fifth lap, leaping to second before the chequered flag and finishing 1.8sec behind Banks. Shane Windelburn (Lola T400) finished third with Karl in fourth.
The afternoon eight lap race had Codie Banks and Ingram back on the grid for a 10-car start. On the last lap the Talon MR1A of Grant Martin struck brake issues, successive spins culminating in a dramatic loss of control at the back of the track on the run to the ‘Higgins’ corner. Martin left the track, crossed the gravel and went sideways into the tyre barrier. While he emerged bruised, the car was damaged.
Out front Ingram made good on his starting position, taking the chequered flag first with David Banks (Talon MR1) second, 11.53sec behind. Codie Banks (Lola T332), was a further eight seconds back in third, behind his father. It was now a win-a-piece to Martin, Banks and Ingram.
Frank Karl (McLaren M10 B) again led the pre-1970 Group A field, finishing fifth. Also in the category, Tony Roberts (McLaren M10 A) finished eighth and Toby Annabell (McLaren M10 B) ninth.
The series now takes a break until the New Year, when it will join the Historic GP at the Taupō International Motorsport Park 19-21 January 2024.
The grid for that round stands at 14 cars, while the number is expected to climb further as the post-holiday date allows several to return to racing. There will be two eight laps on the Saturday, eight laps on Sunday morning and a 10-lapper in the afternoon.
