Britain's 'fast family' heads F5000 entries at Shannons Phillip Island Classic
Britain's 'fast family' of historic motor racing - Frank and Judy Lyons - head a bumper field of around 27 thundering Formula 5000 cars heading to the Phillip Island Classic historic race meeting from March 9-11 this year.
The 'bigger than Grand Prix' field of similarly V8-engined single seaters built between 1969 and the early 1980s will also include up to 15 top cars from New Zealand, another car from Britain and a confirmed nine local cars, making it easily the largest F5000 grid ever assembled in Australia.
They will all compete in a series of races over the weekend, climaxing in Sunday's feature event of the meeting: the VACC International Challenge.
The 'bigger than Grand Prix' field of similarly V8-engined single seaters built between 1969 and the early 1980s will also include up to 15 top cars from New Zealand, another car from Britain and a confirmed nine local cars, making it easily the largest F5000 grid ever assembled in Australia.
Sponsored by Shannons, the VACC and Jayair, this year's 'Classic is expected to equal last year's record attendance and entry, when an estimated 20,000 spectators watching 470 vehicles spanning nine decades compete in 33 individual events over the weekend.
This year's 'Classic has an even more powerful entry than the 2006 event, with the F5000s being joined by a record entry of 'big banger' sports and touring cars.
The Lyons - who run a major sand and quarry operation nears London and also own a substantial collection of 1970s and 1980s F1 cars - are bringing out their Lola T332 Chevrolet for Frank to drive, while his wife Judy will be at the wheel of their 1974 Eagle FA74 Chevrolet once raced by the late F1 World Champion, James Hunt and top female racer Lella Lombardi.
Top F5000 historic competitor Peter Dunn is also bringing out his 1973 March 73A Chevrolet in which he scored podium places in three Britain's HSCC Derek Bell Trophy Series races last year.
Another interesting entry will be Australian Bruce Allison, who will return to competition in a F5000 for the first time in nearly 30 years when he shares driving duties with New Zealand Stan Redmond at the wheel of Redmond's Lola T332 Chevrolet.
Leading Australian Formula 4000 category supporter Chris Hocking will also be stepping back in time at the wheel at Phillip Island of the Matich A53 Repco that John Goss drove to win the Australian Grand Prix at Sandown in 1976. The car has recently been completely rebuilt and Hocking will raced it for the first time at the 'Classic.
Other past F5000 luminaries expected to attend the Shannons Classic as interested spectators include Frank Matich, Vern Schuppan, Alan Hamilton, Jon Davison and Alfredo Costanzo.
For media information contact Michael Browning (03) 9879 9111/0418 324 328.
For event information, call (03) 9744 1807 or visit www.vhrr.com
