F5000s star at Laguna Seca

The highlight of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca (23-26 August) was a sensational grid of almost 40 Formula 5000 cars, 14 of which were on tour from New Zealand and Australia. However, US driver Craig Bennett (Shadow DN6) took a brace of victories and also won both Can-am races in his DN4.

William Ockerlund took Transam honours in his AMC Javelin, and Cameron Healy (Porsche 908/3) won the FIA Manufacturers Championship contests. The prewar races attracted a strong turnout, with Peter Giddings (Alfa Monza) winning one, Erickson Shirley (Tipo B) the other.

This year’s featured marque was Nissan, while the late Dan Gurney was remembered at Saturday’s Picnic in the Paddock, and Mika Häkkinen performed sonorous demonstration laps in the 1995 Le Mans-winning Mclaren F1 GTR.