FORMULA LIBRE, FORMULA FORD & PRE-65s: PREVIEW
Formula Libre (or Free Formula) is a form of single-seater and sports car racing allowing a wide variety of historical types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete head to head
This can make for some interesting matchups and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery.
From the first New Zealand Grand Prix in 1950 to the start of the Tasman formula, the NZGP was run as Formula Libre. The world’s best drivers came here to race during the New Zealand summer. They would bring their cars from the previous F1 season with them and sell them to the locals upon departure. So you would see the likes of Jack Brabham and Bruce McLaren in the latest Cooper T53 F1 cars up against Ralph Watson in the booming Lycoming Special with its 4,733 cc four-cylinder aircraft engine.
Times have changed since those glory days but the MATOS Formula Libre category at Hamptons Downs still brings together a whole host of seriously fast single seater and sports racing cars. This includes home built ‘specials’ showcasing NZ engineering and ingenuity.
Ones to watch at the Hampton Downs round include Dean McCarroll’s rapid Juno, Kenny Smith, New Zealand’s most experienced and still one of the fastest race drivers around, will drive a Swift DB4 Formula Atlantic as will young charger James Watson while Hampton Downs owner
Tony Quinn is sure to be competitive in a Reynard RF94 Formula Atlantic.
Formula Ford has produced an impressive list of world champions, Indycar champions, and Indy 500 winners who have all cut their teeth in the category – names like world champions James Hunt, Jody Scheckter, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Mika Hakkinen and Jenson Button.
Countless New Zealand drivers used Formula Ford to advance their careers including Scott Dixon, Craig Baird, Greg Murphy, Shane van Gisbergen, Fabian Coulthard, Mitch Evans and Richie Stanaway.
Still, a very popular category in Europe, eight international drivers from Europe will be bringing their classic Formula Fords to Hampton Downs for the Legends of Bathurst.
The Pre65 category at Hampton Downs will include a strong field of Minis. The Pre65 category was founded in 1979 and in the early days the Minis were part of Pre65. In the 1990s the Mini Race Drivers club was formed but over the years the clubs have kept a close association, with several Mini Pre65 challenge meetings. Late last year the two clubs decided to combine their fields for this season and it has worked out very well.