Blenheim based 21-year-old Michael Hey won both of today’s SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival series races
held at Christchurch’s Euromarque Motorsport Park.
Held as part of the annual SKOPE Classic weekend the two races ran in beautiful summer weather conditions – contrasting
that of Saturday’s opening race.
The first and eight lap race was a handicap start based on Saturday’s result, placing Shane Windleburn (Lola T400 HU 8 –
London Rubber Co [Durex]) at the front. He was followed by Bruce Kett (Lola T332 HU 46). Last in the group was
Saturday’s race winner, Steve Ross (McRae GM1) – seven seconds behind Michael Hey (McRae GM1) and Kevin Ingram (Lola
T332). The passing was continual – Hey the lead contender at working his way through the field. By the start of lap six
he had closed on Windleburn, taking a run on the inside to the first turn and grabbing the lead. Slipping in behind was
Ross, with just enough room to then move Windleburn to third.
In clear air Hey was the prey while Ross hunted. Hey maintained the gap to the chequered flag with Ross confirming he
didn’t settle for second – he couldn’t catch the youngster.
The afternoon race was reduced to 10-laps, with Ross taking the front row alongside Hey, on the outside.
At the start Ross roared off into the lead, closely followed by the Lola T332 of Kevin Ingram.
Ruapuna’s long front straight gave fans an enduring earful of the thundering V8s – while Hey worked on catching up to
Ingram. By the third lap he was able to sneak underneath at the first turn and quickly locked onto catching Ross.
Closing the gap to 0.5sec by the fifth lap, Hey got a clean pass on the sixth lap to take the lead. By the seventh lap
it appeared Ross was slowing. At the start of lap nine he pulled to the left and parked – retiring with a broken
half-shaft.
Hey came round to the chequered flag with an enthusiastic fist-pump as he crossed the line. Ingram finished second with
the Lola T332 of Russell Greer in third.
As the cars returned, Amanda McLaren, daughter of the late Bruce McLaren, was there to greet them.
For McLaren it was an opportunity to continue her father’s legacy in a category where many of his cars still race: “He
was in it yes for the winning but also the camaraderie and fun – and that is what we have today with the Formula 5000.
So to present the trophy and be a part of it is a great honour for me.”
The first award was the Stan Redmond Memorial Trophy, presented to a member of the F5000 fraternity that exhibits the
same grace and passion its namesake was renowned for.
For 2024 that was Te Kauwhata’s Tony Galbraith (Lola T332 HU 38), who was stunned into silence as his name was called.
Hey was then awarded the Bert Hawthorne cup, that was originally won in 1970 at a Brands Hatch Formula 3 race. From
nearby Kaiapoi, Hawthorne trod the path alongside many of his era and carved a name for himself internationally, until
his journey was tragically cut short at Hockenheim in 1972.
“If there was any race to win I’m glad it was the last one – it’s been a very special event to come out here in my debut
and win this today,” said Hey, an aviation engineer.
“It has come as a bit of a shock. I didn’t expect I’d get a first, let alone a second. I was expecting to be fourth or
fifth, honestly,” Hey added of his weekend.
“I attribute that to my Formula Ford experience that I’ve just come from. This weekend I’ve also been racing in the
Libre class so I’ve had a bit of track time out there.”
Hey said he nearly lost it on the final lap – as the large Avon tyres softened in the summer heat.
Focus now turns to have the cars stripped, cleaned, and packed into shipping containers for transport to Australia and
the trans-Tasman leg of the series. The fourth event for the 2023/2024 season will be held at Phillip Island, south-east
of Melbourne – 7 to 10 March. A fast and flowing layout, the circuit features a mix of high-speed corners a long main
straight and ocean views. From there the cars will be transported to Melbourne to attend the Australia Grand Prix 21-24
March as part of a McLaren celebration.
Continuing to support the SAS Autoparts MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series in its 21st season are SAS Autoparts,
MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialised Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Avon Tyres, Webdesign, Exide Batteries
and Pacifica Shipping – who sea freight the cars for the New Zealand events.