Historic Formula 1 Car to Join Express F5000s

HISTORIC RACING CLUB/NZ FORMULA 5000 ASSOCIATION
Press release
For immediate release

11-11-05

* 2005/6 Flexoplas NZ Express F5000 Revival Series
Rnd 1 Whittakers MG Classic Motor Meeting
Manfeild Autocourse Feilding
Sat/Sun November 12/13
2005

PREVIEW # 2

Historic Formula 1 Car to Join the Flexoplas NZ Express F5000s this Weekend

One of the most historically significant Formula 1 cars built by the McLaren team will be back on track with the Flexoplas NZ Express Formula 5000 single-seaters at the Whittakers MG Classic Motor Race meeting at Feilding's Manfeild Autocourse this weekend.

The car is the ex Denny Hulme M23 now owned by New Zealand Formula 5000 Association member Phil Mauger. The M23 was one of McLaren's most successful models, and the Hulme car is the first of 13 to be built.

Hulme, World Champion in 1967, drove the car in 1973, winning the Swedish Grand Prix. It then went to former motorcycle champion Mike Hailwood, who drove it in the World Championship in 1974.

Hulme bought it in 1975 and shipped it back to New Zealand when he retired from top-line F1 competition. Here, he demonstrated it at a number of events until 1992,when it was placed in the Te Puke motor museum.

Christchurch classic motor racing enthusiast Mauger bought the car earlier this year from Hulme's widow Greta. He has since had the car refurbished and intends running it with the Flexoplas NZ|Express F5000s at major classic motor racing meetings round the country.

This weekend the McLaren will run with the Lolas, Begg and McRae F5000 cars in the Formula Libre races at the Whittakers meeting.

There will be three Formula Libre races at the Whittakers meeting, one on Saturday, one on Sunday morning and the annual Whittakers Formula Libre Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.

This season the 2005/06 Flexoplas NZ Express F5000 Revival Series will consist of five rounds.

They are;
- Rnd 1 Manfeild Autocourse Feilding November 11/12/13 2005
- Rnd 2 Pukekohe Park Raceway Pukekohe January 27/28/29 2006
- Rnd 3 Powerbuilt Int. Raceway Christchurch February 03/04/05 2006
- Rnd 4 Teretonga Park Invercargill February 17/18/19 2006
- Rnd 5 Pukekohe Park Raceway Pukekohe March 17/18/19 2006

The New Zealand Formula 5000 Association has over 20 active members with race-ready 70s-era stock block V8-engined Formula 5000 racing cars and since its inception the now Flexoplas NZ Express-backed series has attracted entries from Australia and the UK.

ENDS

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