Esterer Wins First Msc F500 Race At Hampton Downs

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

* 2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series
Rnd 3 Preview
NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meeting
Hampton Downs
Fri-Sun
Jan 28-30
2011

29-01-11

Esterer Wins First Msc F500 Race At Hampton Downs

What a difference a week makes. Last weekend Canadian driver Jay Esterer (McRae GM1) was an early casualty of the torrential rain which forced an early halt to the first New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon at Hampton Downs. This weekend he raced away to win the first MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Race at the second NZ Festival meeting from Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) and pole-sitter Peter Dunn (March 73A/05).

"It's certainly some turnaround," Esterer agreed as he was surrounded with well-wishers after an incident-packed eight lap race. "Obviously we had big problems with the rain last weekend (the Canadian aquaplaned off the rain-drenched track and clouted the wall) and the car has been in the shop all week getting straightened out.We've also had a problem this weekend with understeer but after talking to some of the guys we made some changes to the car and it was much more pleasant to drive in the race."

Though the northern half of the North Island was hit by the tail end of Cyclone Wilma overnight, the skies dawned clear over Hampton Downs this morning with the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series race run in hot, dry conditions.

Peter Dunn led the field off the rolling start but Esterer, who started from the fourth row of the grid, was in the lead by the time the Safety Car was deployed (on the third lap) to remove Michael Lyons' prone Lola T400.

Young gun Lyons had nowhere to go when Reg Cook spun his similar car on the crest of the third turn. Ron Maydon, driving the Amon F101 Formula 1 car, was able to get past, but Lyons ended up glancing off Cook's car and Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) and Kerry McIntosh (Begg FM2) were stuck behind.

When the track was eventually cleared and the Safety Car returned to the pits Esterer quickly pulled out a two second lead over fellow front-row starter Mark Dwyer with Peter Dunn, Ken Smith (Lola T430), series newcomer Clark Proctor (March 73A-1) and Steve Ross (McRae GM1) disputing third-through-sixth places.

Dwyer briefly led the single F5000 race held at the first NZ Festival of Motor Racing meeting - Chris Amon last weekend and was happy just to be running on a dry track this weekend.

And defending series champion Smith?

"Well," he said, " we started 10th and I'd got through to fifth by the time I got to the first corner then I understeered off onto the grass round the back, went back to eighth, then got back up to fifth again only to have the Safety Car come out. It was a pity because I tell you what, that car was on fire."

Behind Smith at the line was Proctor, Ross, Roger Williams (Lola T332), Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8), Frank Lyons (Gurney-Eagle FA-74-01) and Ron Maydon.

Today's race was the first of three this weekend with a second eight lap race tomorrow (Sunday) morning and a 15-lap Tasman Grand Prix final in the 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, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.

Ends

2010/11 MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series Rnd 3 Preview NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meeting Hampton Downs Fri-Sun Jan 28 2011
Qualifying 1
1 Ken Smith (Lola T430) 1.01.881
2. Jay Esterer (McRae GM1) 1.02.286
3. Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) 1.02.414
4. Steve Ross (McRae GM1) 1.02.786
5. Clark Proctor (March 73A-1) 1.02.860
6. Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) 1.02.101
7. Peter Dunn (March 73A-05) 1.03.104
8. Roger Williams (Lola T332) 1.03.477
9. Frank Lyons (Gurney-Eagle FA74-01) 1.03.898
10. Stuart Lush (McRae GM1) 1.04.112
11. Ian Clements (Lola T332) 1.04.161
12. Ron Maydon (Amon F101 F1) 1.04.207
13. Alastair Russell (McRae GM1) 1.04.362
14. Reg Cook (Lola T430) 1.04.511
15. Michael Whatley (Surtees TS8) 1.04.947
16. Brett Willis (Lola T330) 1.05.563
17. Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) 1.05.809
18. Peter Burson (McRae GM1) 1.07.652
19. Peter Sundberg (Lola T332) 1.07.831
20. Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) 1.08.786
21. Kerry McIntosh (Begg FM2) 1.10.201
22. Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) 1.10.643
23. Poul Christie (Lola T190) 1.13.377
24. Hamish Paterson (Chevron) 1.19.733
25. Michael Lyons (Lola T400) -no time.

Q6 Top 20
1. Steve Ross 1.01.541
2. Roger Williams 1.01.692
3. Ken Smith 1.02.043
4. Peter Dunn 1.01.159
5. Clark Proctor 1.02.444
6. Jay Esterer 1.02.444
7. Aaron Burson 1.02.780
8. Michael Whatley 1.02.815
9. Mark Dwyer 1.03.017
10. Frank Lyons 1.03.207
11. Reg Cook 1.03.326
12. Alastair Russell 1.03.358
13. Ron Maydon 1.04.098
14. Brett Willis 1.04.163
15. Stuart Lush 1.04.393
16. Ian Clements 1.04.684
17. Andrew Higgins 1.05.021
18. Peter Burson 1.09.207
19. Peter Sundberg 1.11.122

Q7 (Top Ten)
1. Peter Dunn 1.01.324
2. Steve Ross 1.01.503
3. Aaron Burson 1.02.469
4. Michael Whatley 1.02.634
5. Clark Proctor 1.02.660
6. Frank Lyons 1.02.773
7. Jay Esterer 1.03.034
8. Mark Dwyer 1.03.017
9. Roger Williams 1.01.692
10. Ken Smith 1.01.881

Race 1 (8 laps)
1. Jay Esterer 11.01.373
2. Mark Dwyer +2.118
3. Peter Dunn +4.409
4. Ken Smith +4.476
5. Clark Proctor +5.112
6. Steve Ross +5.521
7. Roger Willliams +5.786
8. Michael Whatley +6.680
9. Frank Lyons +8.801
10. Ron Maydon +9.990
11. Ian Clements +11.250
12. Andrew Higgins +12.172
13. Aaron Burson +12.209
14. Alastair Russell +17.306
15. Peter Sundberg +18.677
16. Gregory Thornton +22.130
17. Poul Christie +25.119
18. Peter Burson +25.804
19. Warwick Mortimer +26.973
20. Kerry McIntosh +30.098
21. Hamish Paterson +1 lap
dnf Reg Cook, Michael Lyons
dns Stuart Lush.

Calendar
Rnd 1: Oct 30/31 2010 Christchurch Casino Wigram revival meeting Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park Christchurch
Rnd 2: Jan 21-23 2011 NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meeting x 1 Hampton Downs Auckland
Rnd 3: Jan 28-30 2011 NZ Festival of Motor Racing - Chris Amon meeting x 2 Hampton Downs Auckland
Rnd 4: Feb 05/06 2011 Skope Classic meeting Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park Christchurch
Rnd 5: Feb 19-20 2011 Evolution Motorsport Classic Speedfest meeting, Teretonga Park Invercargill
Rnd 6 (Final) March 25-27 2011 Qantas Australian Grand Prix March Albert Park Melbourne, Australia

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