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Ron Grable in the modified McLaren M10A during the 1970 Tasman series.  Copyright Ted Walker (Ferret Fotographics) 2012.  Used with permission.

Tasman Cup Formula 5000 1970

As the 1970 season began, it immediately became apparent that the traditional 2.5-litre cars were still a match for the heavy and unreliable F5000s. Leading this group was Graeme Lawrence in his ex-Chris Amon Ferrari Dino 246T, who took pole at the opening event at Levin and ran away with the race. Fellow Kiwi Bryan Faloon was driving the Rorstan, Feo Stanton's Australian produced copy of a Brabham BT23 fitted with an 11-year-old Coventry Climax FPF, which went particularly well in New Zealand. The leading Australians were Max Stewart and Kevin Bartlett in the Mildren team's pair of 2-litre Waggott-powered cars. Also in this group was Derek Bell, who arrived for the New Zealand races with Tom Wheatcroft's 2.5-litre Brabham BT26, and John Harvey who did two Australian races in Bob Jane's Brabham BT23E-Repco, leading for a while at Warwick Farm.

Of the F5000 drivers, the top locals were Frank Matich and Graham McRae, both with McLaren M10As, and Niel Allen with a newer McLaren M10B. Backing them up were Dennis Marwood in the Eisert that had been left in New Zealand the year before, and a couple of rather slow Beggs. The International F5000 contingent was something of a disappointment. From the US came Ron Grable (Sceptre-modified McLaren M10A), Mike Goth (Surtees TS5), Bill Simpson (Eagle) and Mike Campbell (Forsgrini-Ford); and from Europe came Ulf Norinder (Lola T190) and Derrick Williams (Lola T142). Grable was a former SCCA amateur champion, but the rest were unknowns.

Frank Matich won the second race, the NZ Grand Prix, from Bell, and then won Wigram from Grable, before McRae got his first win at Teretonga with Grable and Goth in the minor placings. The circus then transferred to Australia, where McRae took his second win at Surfers Paradise after Matich was forced to stop for fuel when leading comfortably. The main title contenders, Matich and Lawrence, lined up on the front row at Warwick Farm, with the Kiwi on pole. Matich shot into the lead as Lawrence fluffed his start, but the McLaren driver spun down to 12th place on the first lap, leaving Bartlett at the front. Matich stormed back to second but them spun again, so the Mildren team bagged a 1-2 for Bartlett and Stewart, with Lawrence third. That left Matich and Lawrence in a showdown for the title at Sandown Park's final round. The Aussie took pole but engine problems dropped him out of contention. Niel Allen took the win with Lawrence's second place in the reliable Ferrari giving him the title.

The races

28 Dec 1969 > Bay Park International at Baypark Raceway

03 Jan 1970 > Levin International

10 Jan 1970 > New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe

17 Jan 1970 > Lady Wigram Trophy

24 Jan 1970 > Teretonga International at Teretonga Park

08 Feb 1970 > Surfers Paradise '100'

15 Feb 1970 > Warwick Farm "100"

22 Feb 1970 > Sandown Park Cup

Tasman Cup events shown in bold

1970 Tasman Cup table

1Graeme Lawrence2.4-litre Ferrari Dino 246T/69 - Ferrari V630 pts1 win
2Frank Matich5-litre McLaren M10A - Chevrolet V825 pts2 wins
3=Kevin Bartlett2-litre Mildren - Waggott TC4V 419 pts1 win
3=Max Stewart1.9-litre Mildren - Waggott TC4V 4
2-litre Mildren - Waggott TC4V 4
19 pts 
5Graham McRae5-litre McLaren M10A - Chevrolet V818 pts2 wins
6Ron Grable5-litre McLaren M10A - Chevrolet V817 pts 
7Niel Allen5-litre McLaren M10B - Chevrolet V812 pts1 win
8Mike Goth5-litre Surtees TS5 - Chevrolet V810 pts 
9Ulf Norinder5-litre Lola T190 - Chevrolet V87 pts 
10Derek Bell2.5-litre Brabham BT26A - Cosworth DFW V86 pts 
11Bill Simpson5-litre Eagle Mk 5 - Chevrolet V83 pts 
12Dennis Marwood5-litre Eisert JE67 - Chevrolet V82 pts 
13=John Harvey2.5-litre Brabham BT23E - Repco V82 pts 
13=Alfredo Costanzo1.6-litre McLaren M4A - Cosworth FVA2 pts 
15=Mike Campbell5-litre Forsgrini Mk 14 - Chevrolet V81 pt 
15=Derrick Williams5-litre Lola T142 - Chevrolet V81 pt 
15=Tony Stewart1.6-litre Elfin 600B - Ford twin cam1 pt 

Prize money was awarded for practice positions and race results, with Lawrence endeing the season with $11,000 and Matich on $9,500. The overseas drivers must have made substantial losses, which will hardly have encouraged participation in 1971. In the future, most overseas participation in the Tasman series would be with at least one eye on advertising the potential of a new customer car.