V8 open-wheel racers wanted

It will cost you $300,000 to buy the car that will compete in what’s been dubbed “the fastest motorsport category to hit Australian shores in decades”.

Powered by an Australian modified and developed Ford 5.0-litre V8, the new open-wheel racing category is called S5000. And, based on the category attracting enough entrants, it will debut at six rounds of the Shannon’s Nationals series next year.

The S5000 car made its official debut at Sydney Motorsport Park today.

Priced from $295,000, the car features a French-built Onroak-Ligier chassis but will be assembled in Melbourne at Borland Racing Developments. The finished car has significant local input from Australian brands like Motec and gearbox specialist, Hollinger.

The S5000 chassis features the latest FIA-specification carbon-fibre monocoque and the halo protective device which debuted in F1 this year. S5000 will be the first Australian racing class that will feature the FIA-mandated safety feature.

Series organiser, the Australian Racing Group (ARG), says S5000 has the potential to be one of the fastest open-wheel categories racing globally -- after F1, F2 and IndyCars.

The cars pump out around 420kW but weigh less than 850kg.

While the new format reprises the infamous Formula 5000 cars of the late 1970s and 80s, S5000’s organisers are publicly shying away from comparisons.

“This is the motorsport category that is going to shake up the industry. For many years, we’ve been yearning for a local, cost-effective, premier open wheel motorsport category, and we have no doubt that the S5000 package is the car to deliver what is needed,” ARG boss Matt Braid told carsales.

“They will be fast, loud and entertaining... We anticipate that the best drivers and teams from around Australia and abroad will be part of this history-making category,” he said.

S5000 poses the potential for the return of the iconic Tasman Series. The summer series comprised races in Australia and New Zealand and in its heyday attracted the world’s best drivers.

Motorsport governing body Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) has also suggested that a successful implementation of S5000 could prompt the return of the Gold Star– once Australia’s top driver award.

CAMS CEO Eugene Arocca told carsales: “The decision isn’t up to me, it’s up to the CAMS board, but the suggestion definitely has merit.

“There has been significant interest in this new category from competitors and fans alike. Feedback from the initial launch of S5000 was extremely positive and sparked plenty of passionate discussion about the future of open-wheel racing in Australia,” he stated.

S5000 is the final version of a project started by Chris Lambden who will assume the role of Category Manager for the new series.

Lambden proposed a replacement for Formula 5000 after which Supercars launched a counter series. S5000 is the result of the eventual ‘shotgun’ marriage.

Lambden says he’s quietly confident of S5000 attracting enough entries to be viable. The initial build run of the cars is for 15 units.

“There’s now the certainty that teams and drivers have been looking for to enable them to commit and plan for 2019. S5000 is going to offer the ‘big-bang’, serious open wheeler racing that Australia hasn’t seen for decades. The car will excite people,” Lambden stated.

He says the six-round series proposed for 2019 is “the future” upon which S5000 will be built. Plans for NZ races and other event are yet to be formalised.

“There are discussions also going on with Supercars, among other promotors, with a view to S5000 running at some of their events. This will certainly add some icing to the cake,” he stated.