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John McCormack's Elfin MR6 at Sandown in 1975.  Copyright oldracephotos.com/Neil Hammond. Used with permission.

Tasman Cup Formula 5000 1975

Despite Rothmans stumping up another $100,000, the decline of the Tasman Cup continued. The only competitors that could be deemed International were two Kiwis: F1 stalwart Chris Amon and multiple champion Graham McRae, whose 1974 US F5000 season had been a disaster. Back in New Zealand however, he quickly went back to his pattern of pole position and retirement in the McRae GM2, but finally took a deserved win at Wigram. Unfortunately the GM2 was destroyed in practice at Surfers Paradise. Amon had brought one of the GM2-copy Talons TR-1s which was almost as quick as the original, but Amon also only won one race.

Much had been expected of the new Lola T400, especially in the hands of Kevin Bartlett and Max Stewart, and the Elfin MR6 of John McCormack, but the T400s proved so bewildering that both owners returned to their older Lolas, and McCormack was not quite on the pace in the now Holden-powered Elfin.

So it was left to the next rung of locals to fight for the title in their older Lola T332s, and the final Tasman Cup title fell to Warwick Brown by just two points from Graeme Lawrence and Johnnie Walker. In future it would be the Rothmans International series, while the four Kiwi races formed a separate series.

The races

05 Jan 1975 > Levin International

12 Jan 1975 > New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe

19 Jan 1975 > Lady Wigram Trophy

26 Jan 1975 > Teretonga International at Teretonga Park

02 Feb 1975 > Oran Park "100"

09 Feb 1975 > Surfers Paradise '100'

16 Feb 1975 > Adelaide '100' at Adelaide International Raceway

23 Feb 1975 > Sandown Park Cup

1975 Tasman Cup table

1Warwick BrownLola T332 - Chevrolet V831 pts2 wins
2=Graeme LawrenceLola T332 - Chevrolet V830 pts2 wins
2=Johnnie WalkerLola T330/T332 - Repco Holden V830 pts1 win
4John McCormackElfin MR6 - Repco Holden V823 pts 
5Chris AmonTalon MR-1 - Chevrolet V817 pts1 win
6John GossMatich A53 - Repco Holden V813 pts1 win
7=Graham McRaeMcRae GM2 - Chevrolet V8
Matich A50 - Repco Holden V8
12 pts1 win
7=Kevin BartlettLola T400 - Chevrolet V8
Lola T332 - Chevrolet V8
12 pts 
9=Max StewartLola T400 - Chevrolet V8
Lola T330 - Chevrolet V8
11 pts 
9=Ken SmithLola T330 - Chevrolet V811 pts 
11Jim MurdochBegg 018 - Chevrolet V87 pts 
12=David OxtonLola T330 - Chevrolet V81 pt 
12=Baron RobertsonElfin MR5 - Repco Holden V81 pt 
12=Garrie CooperElfin MR5 - Repco Holden V81 pt 

Points table from Autocourse 1975/76 p197-198.