'Formula 5000' (or 'F5000') was an auto-racing series that ran in the various countries 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 3.5, 4.5 and 4.7 litre engines. Manufacturers included greats such as
McLaren,
Eagle,
March,
Lola,
Lotus and
Chevron.
F5000 around the world
North America
Formula 5000 was introduced in 1968 as a class within SCCA Formula A races, a series where single seaters from different origins were allowed to compete, but which rapidly came to be dominated by the cars equipped with production-based American V8s. The concept was inspired by the success of the Can-Am Series, which featured unlimited formula
sports cars fitted with very powerful engines derived from American
V8s; the idea was to replicate the concept using
open wheel racing cars. F5000 enjoyed popularity in the early 1970s in the U.S. and featured drivers such as
Mario Andretti,
Jody Scheckter,
Brian Redman,
David Hobbs,
John Cannon and
Eppie Wietzes.
Increasing costs and Lola domination meant the formula quickly lost its appeal after 1975. Older cars continued to be used in the SCCA national races, but the most competitive teams reconverted their cars with sports car bodyworks, in the resurrected
Can-Am championship, starting in 1977. The formula worked initially, with a number of European drivers crossing the Atlantic to attend the SCCA-run championship, but when
IMSA introduced the new
GTP prototype regulations for their own sports car championship, the old F5000 were now clumsy and slow compared to the new cars.
Europe
In the UK, the arrival of the
Cosworth DFV engine meant that many teams could now afford to build their own chassis around a good engine/transmission package, so
Cooper, Lotus and
Brabham stopped the production of customer
Formula 1 cars. Unfortunately, smaller privateer teams and drivers that entered Britain's non-championship F1 events were left behind, and the
RAC quickly adopted the American F5000 regulations.
Unlike the American series, the British championship didn't attract many star names from Formula 1 and sports cars, and was dominated by drivers that were usually seen in
Formula 2 or in the back of F1's World Championship grids, although
Peter Gethin managed to launch his F1 career thanks to his F5000 championship titles. While it was based in the United Kingdom, the British F5000 series (named Guards F5000, Rothmans F5000 or Shellsport F5000, according to the year's sponsor) managed to spread across Europe, with races held in many international circuits, including
Monza (Italy),
Hockenheim (Germany) and
Zandvoort (Netherlands), and attracted a significant number of continental drivers.
The weak pound (a result of the energy crisis) and the increasing cost of importing Chevy V8s caused some concern and engine regulations for European F5000 were revised to permit engines other than the big pushrod V8s - the DOHC
Cosworth GA V6 (based on a unit used in Group 2
Capris was permitted to race at a capacity of 3500cc. March 75A and Chevron B30 cars were successful with the V6, the March in particular being little more than a 751
Formula One car with minor modifications for the new engine.
However, the same problem that befell US F5000 happened in Europe, and in 1976, the Championship was opened to Formula 1 cars, forming the basis of what would become the
Aurora F1 Championship. F5000 cars continued to be used, but were no longer competitive against their 3.0 litre counterparts. Older F5000 cars continued to be used in the British Sprint Championship.
Australia and New Zealand
In Australia and New Zealand, F5000 replaced the FIA Intercontinental Formula in the
Tasman Series starting from 1970. The Tasman Series ran during the Formula One off season in the European winter, and in the late 1960s it had attracted the attention of the greatest names in Grand Prix racing, from locals
Bruce McLaren and
Jack Brabham to foreigners like
Graham Hill and
Jim Clark.
However, by the 1970s, the Tasman Series had become a competitive Australian/New Zealand local championship, but the more famous names were no longer taking part in the races, leaving the field to be dominated by the cream of "Down Under" drivers, racing against a few Europeans.
South Africa
In South Africa, F5000 first ran concurrently with used F1 cars.
List of F5000 Champions
References
OldRacingCars.com F5000 cars histories and race results
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