Tasman Series

Last updated
Tasman Series
CategoryTasman Formula
1964–69 2.5 litre
1970–71 F5000 & 2.5 litre
1972–75 F5000 & 2.0 litre
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Inaugural season1964
Folded1975
Drivers28 (1975)
Constructors12 (1975)
Engine suppliers3 (1975)
Last Drivers' champion Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warwick Brown
Jim Clark won the 1965 Tasman Series with a Lotus 32B, the Tasman Series variant of the Formula Two Lotus 32, with a 2.5L engine in place of the 32's 1L unit. Lotus 32B.jpg
Jim Clark won the 1965 Tasman Series with a Lotus 32B, the Tasman Series variant of the Formula Two Lotus 32, with a 2.5L engine in place of the 32's 1L unit.

The Tasman Series (formally the Tasman Championship for Drivers) [1] was a motor racing competition held annually from 1964 to 1975 over a series of races in New Zealand and Australia. It was named after the Tasman Sea which lies between the two countries. The Tasman Series races were held in January through to late February or early March of each year, during the Formula One off season, taking advantage of winter in the Northern Hemisphere to attract many top drivers to summer in the south. The Tasman Cup was the permanent trophy awarded to the winning driver. [1]

Contents

History

The Tasman initially started in 1960 as a series of unrelated races between Australia and New Zealand. [2] In 1964 it was renamed Tasman Cup. Until 1969, the Tasman Formula specified open-wheel single-seater racing cars similar to Formula One cars, yet retaining F1 engine rules that were in effect until 1960. Thus, engines of 2500 cm³ that were obsolete for the contemporary Formula One class were eligible for the Tasman Formula.

After F1 upgraded to 3000 cm³ in 1966, the Tasman Formula regulations continued to specify a 2500 cm³ limit for another four years. Usually, the chassis of the previous F1 season were fitted with "Tasman" engines, and entered "down under". In what many[ who? ] consider Tasman's zenith season, 1968, Cosworth even produced a Tasman variant of its legendary DFV V8, known as the DFW, and BRM equipped its cars with a reduced capacity version of their F1 V12. In 1969 both Lotus and Ferrari contested the series with two cars teams, Jochen Rindt and Graham Hill in Lotus 49BTs and Chris Amon and Derek Bell in Dino 246 Tasmania cars which used F2 chassis fitted with modernised versions of the late 1950s F1 2.4 Dino V6 engine. Piers Courage strongly challenged the work teams in a Frank Williams Cosworth 2.5 BT24 Brabham which beat the Lotus and Ferrari teams at Teretonga in New Zealand.

Unfortunately for the Tasman Series, F1's "return to power", coupled to ever increasing costs, reduced the cachet of its Antipodean sister and after 1969 teams became increasingly unwilling to invest significant funds into what many perceived as a lesser championship. Only one Cosworth DFW 2.5 powered car appeared in the 1970 and 1971 Tasman series, Bell driving an uncompetitive Goodyear shod Wheatcroft Brabham BT26 in 3 rounds in 1970 and Amon and fellow Kiwi David Oxton each contesting 2 rounds of 1971 series in the ex Andretti March 701.

In an attempt to reduce costs, the Tasman Formula was extended to incorporate Formula 5000 cars from 1970 [3] and the limit on pure racing engines was reduced from 2.5 litres to 2.0 litres from 1972. [4] Even these changes failed to contain spiralling costs and at the end of the 1975 event the series folded.

The four Australian former Tasman races became the Rothmans International Series from 1976 to 1979 (still under Formula 5000 regulations). The four New Zealand races became the 'Peter Stuyvesant Series' and after 1976 changed to Formula Pacific cars.

Many high-profile local drivers from that era, such as Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Denny Hulme took part in their home events, but the series also attracted international F1 stars like Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Phil Hill, John Surtees, Jochen Rindt, Pedro Rodríguez and Jackie Stewart, who travelled the long way from Europe.

For two brief years beginning in 1999 the Tasman Series was revived as a series for Formula Holden racing cars with Simon Wills and Andy Booth winning the two series held exclusively in New Zealand.

The Tasman Series was revived as part of the S5000 Series. [5]

Champions

SeasonDriverCarWinsPodiumsPointsMargin
(pts)
Tasman Formula
1964 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce McLaren Cooper T70-Climax FPF 35 (7)396
1965 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Clark Lotus 32B-Climax FPF 3 (4)4 (5)3511
1966 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jackie Stewart BRM P261 454515
1967 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Clark Lotus 33-Climax V-8 3 (5)6 (8)4527
1968 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Clark Lotus 49T-Cosworth DFW 45448
1969 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon Dino 246 Tasmania Ferrari V6 464414
1970 Flag of New Zealand.svg Graeme Lawrence Dino 246 Tasmania Ferrari V6 15305
Formula 5000
1971 Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham McRae McLaren M10B-Chevrolet 35354
1972 Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham McRae Leda GM1-Chevrolet 443911
1973 Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham McRae McRae GM1-Chevrolet 354011
1974 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Gethin Chevron B24-Chevrolet 254115
1975 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warwick Brown Lola T332-Chevrolet 24311
Formula Holden
1999 Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Wills Reynard 94D-Holden
2000 Flag of New Zealand.svg Andy Booth Reynard 95D-Holden 22842
S5000
2021 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aaron Cameron Rogers AF01-Ford [lower-alpha 1] 1316522
2022 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Nathan Herne Rogers AF01-Ford 4418721
2023 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aaron Cameron Rogers AF01-Ford 3313021
Formula Regional Oceania
2024 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Christian Mansell Tatuus FT-60-Toyota 141358

Note: values in parentheses include the results from all races, not all of which counted towards the championship.

See also

Notes

  1. The chassis is built by Onroak Automotive but the car was built by Garry Rogers Motorsport

Related Research Articles

Motor Racing Developments Ltd., commonly known as Brabham, was a British racing car manufacturer and Formula One racing team. Founded in 1960 by Australian driver Jack Brabham and British-Australian designer Ron Tauranac, the team won four Drivers' and two Constructors' World Championships in its 30-year Formula One history. Jack Brabham's 1966 FIA Drivers' Championship remains the only such achievement using a car bearing the driver's own name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jochen Rindt</span> German racing driver (1942–1970)

Karl Jochen Rindt was a German-born racing driver who competed with an Austrian license during his career, despite having German and not Austrian citizenship. In 1970, he was killed during practice for the Italian Grand Prix and became the only driver to be posthumously awarded the Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooper Car Company</span> British car manufacturer

The Cooper Car Company is a British car manufacturer founded in December 1947 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles's small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England, in 1946. Through the 1950s and early 1960s they reached motor racing's highest levels as their mid-engined, single-seat cars competed in both Formula One and the Indianapolis 500, and their Mini Cooper dominated rally racing. The Cooper name lives on in the Cooper versions of the Mini production cars that are built in England, but is now owned and marketed by BMW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Amon</span> New Zealand racing driver (1943–2016)

Christopher Arthur Amon was a New Zealand motor racing driver. He was active in Formula One racing in the 1960s and 1970s, and is widely regarded as one of the best F1 drivers never to win a championship Grand Prix. His reputation for bad luck was such that fellow driver Mario Andretti once joked that "if he became an undertaker, people would stop dying". Former Ferrari Technical Director Mauro Forghieri stated that Amon was "by far the best test driver I have ever worked with. He had all the qualities to be a World Champion but bad luck just wouldn't let him be".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cosworth DFV</span> Internal combustion engine

The DFV is an internal combustion engine that was originally produced by Cosworth for Formula One motor racing. The name is an abbreviation of Double Four Valve, the engine being a V8 development of the earlier four-cylinder FVA, which had four valves per cylinder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1969 Mexican Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 1969 Gran Premio de Mexico was a Formula One motor race held at the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca, Mexico City on October 19, 1969, two weeks after the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. It was race 11 of 11 in both the 1969 World Championship of Drivers and the 1969 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 65-lap race was won by McLaren driver Denny Hulme after he started from fourth position. Jacky Ickx finished second for the Brabham team and his teammate Jack Brabham came in third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Monaco Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 1970 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Circuit de Monaco on 10 May 1970. It was race 3 of 13 in both the 1970 World Championship of Drivers and the 1970 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. Jochen Rindt scored the last victory for the famous Lotus 49.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 Formula One season</span> 25th season of the FIAs Formula One motor racing

The 1971 Formula One season was the 25th season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 22nd World Championship of Drivers and the 14th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers which were contested concurrently over eleven races between 6 March and 3 October. The season also included a number of non-championship races open to Formula One cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Formula One season</span> 24th season of the FIAs Formula One motor racing

The 1970 Formula One season was the 24th season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 21st World Championship of Drivers and the 13th International Cup for F1 Manufacturers. Thirteen races were held between 7 March and 25 October, with the Drivers' Championship won by Jochen Rindt and the Constructors' title by Lotus. Rindt died four races before the end of the season, but had earned enough World Championship points that no other driver managed to surpass his total by the end of the season. It is the only season to date in which the World Drivers' Championship title had been awarded posthumously. Jacky Ickx driving for Ferrari finished the season strongly, but his low 4th-place finish in the penultimate round ensured that Rindt's title lead would stand. In the end, all of Rindt's 45 points came from his five wins in the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 Formula One season</span> 22nd season of the FIAs Formula One motor racing

The 1968 Formula One season was the 22nd season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing. It featured the 19th FIA World Championship, which commenced on 1 January, and ended on 3 November after twelve races, and numerous non-championship races. Graham Hill won the second of his World Championship titles, with Lotus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Repco</span> Australian automotive engineering/retailer company

Repco is an Australian automotive engineering/retailer company. Its name is an abbreviation of Replacement Parts Company and was for many years known for reconditioning engines and for specialised manufacturing, for which it gained a high reputation. It is now best known as a retailer of spare parts and motor accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham McRae</span> New Zealand racing driver (1940–2021)

Graham Peter McRae was a racing driver from New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Miles (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (1943–2018)

John Jeremy Miles was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, making his debut on 6 July 1969, in the Lotus 63 4-wheel drive F1 car for which he was the official Team Lotus test driver. He scored a total of 2 championship points with a fifth place in the 1970 South African Grand Prix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula 5000</span> Former Single-Seater Racing class

Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula. The '5000' denomination comes from the maximum 5.0 litre engine capacity allowed in the cars, although many cars ran with smaller engines. Manufacturers included McLaren, Eagle, March, Lola, Lotus, Elfin, Matich and Chevron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lotus 49</span> Formula One racing car

The Lotus 49 was a Formula One racing car designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe for the 1967 F1 season. It was designed around the Cosworth DFV engine that would power most of the Formula One grid through the 1970s. It was one of the first F1 cars to use a stressed member engine combined with a monocoque to reduce weight, with other teams adopting the concept after its success. It also pioneered the use of aerofoils to generate downforce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lotus 72</span> Formula One racing car

The Lotus 72 is a Formula One car designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe of Lotus for the 1970 Formula One season. The 72 was a pioneering design featuring inboard brakes, side-mounted radiators in sidepods, and aerodynamic wings producing down-force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brabham BT24</span> Formula One racing car

The Repco Brabham BT24 was a Formula One racing car design. It was one of three cars used by the Brabham racing team during their championship-winning 1967 Formula One season. Only three BT24 chassis were ever raced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March 701</span> Formula One racing car

The March 701 is a Formula One racing car model, designed by Robin Herd with Peter Wright, and built by March Engineering. The 701 was March's first Formula One design – following their one-off March 693P Formula Three prototype of 1969 – and was designed and built in only three months. The March 701 made its race debut a month after its public unveiling, at the 1970 South African Grand Prix. In total, eleven 701s were constructed, with March supplying many privateer entrants as well as their own works team. The 701's career started well, March drivers taking three wins and three pole positions from the car's first four race entries, but lack of development through the 1970 Formula One season resulted in increasingly poor results as the year wore on. The 701 was superseded by the March 711 in 1971, and made its last World Championship race appearance at the 1971 Italian Grand Prix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brabham BT23</span>

The Brabham BT23 was a formula racing car built by Brabham in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brabham BT26</span> Formula One racing car

The Repco Brabham BT26 was a Formula One racing car design. A development of the previous BT24, its Repco engines were unreliable, but following a switch to Cosworth DFV engines it scored two World Championship Grand Prix wins and finished runner up in the 1969 World Constructors' Championship.

References

  1. 1 2 Tasman Championship for Drivers, CAMS Manual of Motor Sport with National Competition Rules 1974, pages 80 to 83
  2. "History of the Tasman Series 1964-1969 – Official Website for the Tasman Revival Sydney Motor Sport Park".
  3. 1970 Season Archived 2009-09-18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.sergent.com.au on 26 July 2009
  4. 1971 Season Archived 2009-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.sergent.com.au on 26 July 2009
  5. "Modern Formula 5000 category launched". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.