McRae GM1 driver Chris Hyde's perfect MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival run continued at the second round of the 2007/08 series at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park over the January 5-6 weekend.
In a virtual repeat of his performance at the opening round of the 2007/08 MSC championship at Feilding's Manfeild Autocourse in November last year, the 38-year-old son of legendary New Zealand all-rounder Avon Hyde was again the man to beat, setting the pace in qualifying on Saturday morning then winning all three MSC Tasman Cup Revival races very much as he liked.
Hyde led all three from start to finish, timing the spectacular rolling starts to perfection to win the first - on Saturday afternoon - from Aucklanders Roger Williams (Lola T332) and popular category returnee Ken Smith (Lola T430), the second (on Sunday morning) from Smith and local man Stan Redmond (Lola T332) and the feature Lady Wigram Cup on Sunday afternoon from Williams and Smith.
Long-time category supporter Williams, now behind the wheel of an ex Danny Ongais Interstate Lola T332 after running a McRae GM1 for a number of years, got close, setting the quickest race lap in the first race then being the only other driver to break the 1.20.00 m. barrier in the 12 lap Lady Wigram Cup final, but the weekend belonged to Hyde and his ex Ted Wenz GM1.
"Am I happy? Hyde asked as he was literally mobbed by an enthusiastic crowd of supporters and category fans after the Lady Wigram Cup final. "I'm very happy. We had more pressure this weekend with both Kenny and Roger right behind us, but what can I say? The car was magic. Just magic. And everything went exactly to plan."
Held in hot, sultry conditions at the 3.3 km Powerbuilt Tools Raceway on the outskirts of Christchurch, the big Lady Wigram Trophy meeting marked a number of firsts for New Zealand's Formula 5000 Association and its ground-breaking MSC-backed Tasman Cup Revival Series.
It was the first meeting anywhere in the world where car owners and fans commemorated the 40th anniversary of the birth of the iconic stock-block 5-litre V8-engined Formula 5000 category. And it was the first time that a round of the local MSC series has been held at a major contemporary New Zealand meeting - rather than at a classic or historic one.
To mark the occasion original Wigram event organiser The Motor Racing Club, now part of the Canterbery Car Club, put up a sister trophy to the historic Lady Wigram one, the Lady Wigram Cup, for the winner of the feature race.
And as the weekend progressed it became obvious from the way the large crowd flocked to the fences every time the 19-strong field of Formula 5000 cars ventured onto the track that the addition of the cars to the programme was a popular one.
Eagle-eyed category and marque enthusiasts were also quick to note that Chris Hyde's 35-year-old McRae was actually the quickest car on the track, the local race team manager and longtime driver coach at the circuit leaving the category lap record at 1.19.337.
The quickest Toyota drivers dipped into the 19s in qualifying on Saturday but Lady Wigram Trophy winner Earl Bamber's quickest lap in the race was a 1.20.696!
It wasn't just the speed of Hyde, Williams and Smith which impressed the crowd either.
There was close, exciting racing throughout the field with category newcomer Sefton Gibb, driving the ex Ian Clements Lola T332, one of the big improvers over the weekend after qualifying sixth then claiming a sixth and two fourths in the races.
Typical of the type of driver attracted to the cars and the category Napier man Gibb said that he had thoroughly enjoyed his weekend and that he was looking for further gains in competitiveness -
"That last race was just so much fun, " he grinned. "It was fantastic. I'm not sure whether you, me or anyone else ever really gets to grips with these cars - they are real beasts - but I'm having a hell of a lot of fun trying!"
The 20-strong MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival field now heads back north for rounds at Pukekohe Park and Taupo before heading across the Tasman for the final at the annual Phillip Island Classic meeting in March.
2007/08 MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Rnd 2 Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park Christchurch Sat-Sun Jan 5-6 2008
Qualifying
1. Chris Hyde (Christchurch, McRae GM1) 1.19.237
2. Ken Smith (Auckland, Lola T430) 1.20.636
3. Stuart Lush (Auckland, McRae GM1) 1.21.484
4. Roger Williams (Auckland, Lola T332) 1.21.955
5. Stan Redmond (Christchurch, Lola T332) 1.22.930
6. Sefton Gibb (Napier, Lola T332) 1.23.020
7. Tony Richards (Christchurch, Lola T332) 1.23.507
8. David Abbott (Christchurch, Lola T430) 1.23.533
9. Noel Atley (Invercargill, Begg 018) 1.25.080
10. Aaron Burson (Auckland, Talon MR1A) 1.26.814
11. John Mackinlay (Auckland, March 73A/2 1.27.174
12. Lindsay O'Donnell (Christchurch, Begg FM5) 1.28.067
13. Russell Greer (Blenheim, Lola T332) 1.28.288
14. Tony Roberts (Auckland.McLaren M22) 1.28.633
15. Phil Mauger (Christchurch, McLaren M23) 1.28.927
16. Kerry Anderson (Auckland, Lola T142) 1.32.718
17. Kerry McIntosh (Auckland/Begg FM2) 1.35.016
18. Peter Burson (Auckland, McRae GM1) 1.36.072
19. John Bryant (Australia, Lola T140) 1.37.255
Race 1
1. Chris Hyde
2. Roger Williams
3. Ken Smith
4. Stuart Lush
5. Stan Redmond
6. Sefton Gibb
7. Tony Richards
8. David Abbott
9. Noel Atley
10. Aaron Burson
11. John Mackinlay
12. Lindsay O'Donnell
13. Tony Roberts
14. Phil Mauger
15. Russell Greer
16. Kerry Anderson
17. Kerry McIntosh
18. Peter Burson
19. John Bryant
Race 2
1. Chris Hyde
2. Ken Smith
3. Stan Redmond
4. Sefton Gibb
5. Tony Richards
6. Roger Williams
7. David Abbott
8. Aaron Burson
9. Noel Atley
10. Russell Greer
11. Tony Roberts
12. Phil Mauger
13. Peter Burson
14. Kerry McIntosh
15. Kerry Anderson
16. Lindsay O'Donnell
dnf John Mackinlay, Stuart Lush, John Bryant
Race 3
The MSC F5000 Grand Prix
1. Chris Hyde
2. Roger Williams
3. Ken Smith
4. Sefton Gibb
5. Stan Redmond
6. David Abbott
7. Aaron Burson
8. Tony Richards
9. Lindsay O'Donnell
10. Tony Roberts
11. Phil Mauger
12. Russell Greer
13. Peter Burson
14. Kerry Anderson
dnf: Noel Atley
dns: John Macinlay, Kerry McIntosh, John Bryant
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