MOTORSPORT: S5000 get a Brazilian

Rubens Barrichello, an 11-time Formula 1 race winner and Michael Schumacher’s sidekick during his glory days at Ferrari, will lead the S5000 revolution in Australian single-seater racing.

The grand prix nice guy will pace the pack at Sandown next month for the historic first event of the S5000 class, leading a potential field of 14 uniquely-Australian V8-powered open-wheelers.

It will be his first trip Down Under since the end of his F1 career, which included five podium finishes in the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park from a record total of 322 championship starts.

Barrichello, now 47, will only drive his S5000 car for the first time in the week ahead of the Sandown meeting during a pre-race shakedown at Phillip Island, but says he is looking forward to sliding back into a single-seater after spending recent years in the Brazilian touring car championship.

“The car looks to be a real challenge and I look forward to playing my part in its launch,” says Barrichello.

“It’s great to see what will be a resurgence in serious open-wheeler racing in Australia. I hear the sight and sound of a 5.0-litre V8 in the back of the S5000 is pretty awesome.”

News of Barrichello’s signing is likely to spark a surge in entries for the S5000 start-up, providing a target for youngsters entering the category and bragging rights for older drivers.

“Pretty cool, isn’t it?” the S5000 category manager Chris Lambden told carsales.

“Rubens is a real racer. Someone like him is not going to go somewhere and drive a car that makes him look silly. He is looking forward to it.”

Lambden is a former owner and driver of an historic Formula 5000 car and had the idea for a 21st century revival of the V8 category, providing the initial spark for the category through to creation of the cars and the final sign-up for the championship through the Australian Racing Group.

Barrichello will be on a tight schedule for his Down Under comeback, as he will be racing in the stock car series in Brazil on the Sunday before his S5000 test.

“Having been to Australia many times during my F1 career, I’m excited to be coming back. The concept of the S5000 formula is a very interesting one,” he says.

“I’ve never been to the Sandown circuit before, so there will be much to absorb, but it looks like a great venue for the S5000s to make their debut. It’s going to be a great experience.”

Lambden says the Barrichello deal came together quickly once he was put in touch with Australian’s former celebrity F1 driver manager, Greg ‘Peewee’ Siddle, who guided the careers of triple world champion Nelson Piquet and former Australian Grand Prix winner Roberto Moreno.

“We wanted to have someone at Sandown who even the general public would know. He also needed to be current and Rubens, through running in the Brazilian touring car championship, ticks the boxes,” Lambden said.

“He’s a front -runner and a really good guy. He’s also a laid-back guy and he knows all about the car.”

As the S5000 boss, Lambden is also hopeful that Barrichello will become a magnet to draw other drivers into the category.

Garry Rogers gave his two Supercars drivers, Richie Stanaway and James Golding, a hit-out in one of the cars at Winton Raceway yesterday and is also organising a test at Phillip Island with five cars for interested drivers.

“I think this news will get a lot of people off the fence. It’s an added incentive. Now they can go and race Rubens Barrichello,” said Lambden.

The Sandown S5000 race will be held on September 20-22 as part of the ARG program that includes the carsales TCR Australia Series, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge and Australian GT.