The Race Classes
Formula 5000
This is the premier class for the NZFMR and there will be a 15 lap feature race on the Sunday of both weekends of racing at Hampton Downs for the ‘MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series.’ Big and colourful single seater 5000cc V8 engined race cars will provide a great racing spectacle.
Chris Amon drove a 1975 Talon MR1 F5000 in the 1975 Tasman series and won the Teretonga International.
Tasman Formula - 1960/early 1970s pre-F5000 Tasman cars
Cars in this class will be typical of the single seater and sports racing cars that raced in New Zealand and Australia in the 1960s ‘Tasman Cup’ and other national races. Graham Adelman from USA has confirmed he will bring the ex Chris Amon 1968 Ferrari 246T Dino to the Festival - as well as his 1968 Tasman BRM P126 V12 that was driven by Bruce Mclaren.
Chris Amon competed often in the Tasman Cup and his biggest success saw him win the 1969 Tasman Cup driving a Ferrari 246T Dino Tasman car.
Super Historics
These cars are 1970s and 1980s ‘wings and slicks’ cars like those that won the New Zealand and Australian Grand Prix throughout this era. There will also be some other invited cars such as the Formula Holden race cars of the late 1980s and early 1990s as driven by Greg Murphy, Craig Baird and Scott Dixon. The classic line up in this class will include cars made by manufacturers such as Ralt, March, Chevron, Reynard and Swift.
Formula Junior/early F3 cars
This class is for the small 1100cc single seaters from 1959 – 1963, plus some invited Formula 3 cars from the 1964-68 period. There will be a full field of colourful front or rear engined cars and plenty of close racing. The Formula requires the use of passenger car engines and brake systems of the era so there will be plenty of iconic Fiat, Ford Anglia and BMC motors out on the track.
Early Historics - 1930s, 1940s and 1950s
There will be plenty of historic racing and sports racing cars in this class. Already, Ernie Nagamatsu from USA has confirmed he will return with his 'Old Yeller II' Buick Special and join with the great collection of 1940s and 1950s New Zealand racing specials.
Invited 1960s Saloon & GTs
As with the Bruce Mclaren Festival held in 2010, we hope to once again see the return to the track of Robbie Francevic in his recreated 1967 NZ Saloon car Championship winning Custaxie 7000cc - that he aptly titled ‘Colour Me Gone.’ Add in the possibility of having the 'Fleetwood' Mustang, ex Clyde Collins A40 Fordina, the famous ex-Kerry Grant/Jim Mullins Austin A40, a range of Anglias, Lotus Cortinas, Mini Coopers, Mustangs, Ferrari 275, Escorts, Mk3 Zephyr, Mk2 Zephyr Corvette, Alfas and there will be plenty for fans to fizz about.
Invited 1970s Saloons & GTs
This class will be for saloons & GTs of the 1970s including some of the most famous ‘tin tops’ of the era including a Ford Cologne Capri and Ford RS2600 Capri, Jaguar XJS and XJ6, Escort RS2000, Ferrari 308GTB, Ford Mustangs, BMWs, Alfas, Minis and more. Lots of colour, close racing and impressive speed.
Invited 1980s Saloon & GTs
A new class for the Chris Amon Festival will be the 1980s Saloons & GTs. Come and see the exciting range of cars typical of those that raced in the Nissan Mobil Wellington Street races of the 1980s. Cars will include BMW 635, BMW M3, Ford Sierra Cosworth, Holden Commodore, Ford Mustang, the 'Godzilla' Nissan. Be at the Festival and see the mighty Group A and Group N cars in action again.
Formula Fords
Help celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Formula Ford in New Zealand. There will be a full field of 38 Kiwi and Australian cars of 1970s and 1980s Formula Fords making up a colourful grid. Plenty of close racing in this class.
Pre 1963 Classic Racing Motorcycles
A new class for the first weekend only of the Festival (21-23 Jan 2011) will be for pre 1963 classic bikes. Come along to see a large field of 250, 350 and 500cc bikes such as Norton, AJS7R, BSA and Triumph.