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.
Qualifying
1. Kenny Smith (Lola T430) 55.078
2. Christopher Hyde (McRae GM1) 55.794
3. Mark Dwyer (Lola T332) 56.519
4. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 56.690
5. Roger Williams (Lola T332) 56.758
6. Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) 57.463
7. Aaron Lewis (Matich A50) 57.683
8. David Abbott (Lola T430) 58.007
9. Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8) 58.007
10. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 58.307
11. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 58.750
12. Peter Dunn (March 73A) 59.166
13. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 59.624
14. Greg Thornton (Surtees TS11) 59.801
15. Hamish Paterson (Chevron B32) 1:00.771
16. Daryl Taylor (Chevron B28) 1:01.425
17. Bruce Leeson (McLaren M10B) 1:01.812
18. Tim Rush (McLaren M22) 1:03.062
19. Marcus Pye (Lola T332)1:03.969
20. Bill Hemming (Elfin MR8 A/C)1:04.555
21. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 1:04.864
22. Kerry McIntosh (Begg FM5) 1:05.024
23. Kerry Anderson (Lola T142) 1:05.410
24. Poul Christie (Lola T190) 1:06.087
25. Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400) 1:08.396
26. Paul Trevethan (Elfin MR6L) 1:08.678
27. Calven Bonney (Begg 018) 1:33.005
28. Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) 2:07.570
29. Alastair Russell (McRae GM1) 2:09.706
30. Judy Lyons (Gurney-Eagle FA74) 2:17.368
