FORMULA 5000 CHAMP TESTS S5000

Formula 5000 Champ tests S5000 – Photo: Supplied

New Zealand Formula 5000 champion, Andy Higgins tested the modern S5000 racer at The Bend Motorsport Park over the weekend.

By RHYS VANDERSYDE

The historic open-wheel specialist and current LMP2 racer took part in Team BRM’s test at the South Australian venue driving the same car raced by both Rubens Barrichello and Anton de Pasquale during the two race events in 2019.

Higgins a two-time winner of the F5000 Tasman Revival series provided an interesting perspective on the S5000 as compared to his family-owned Lola T332 Formula 5000 car.

“It was really good to have a proper drive of the car – which is very different to the old F5000 for obvious reasons,” said Higgins.

“Technological progress means that it’s a fairly refined package in comparison, although it retains the essence of the brute V8 that characterised Formula 5000.”

The Kiwi took part in the test to get a gauge on the category as he looks to be on the grid in 2020.

“Absolutely. I’m one of those that believes you need to have a really good test of a car to know where you’d like to go with it – and, yes, having driven it I’d like to race one!” Higgins continued.

Higgins return to The Bend in January, for the second round of the Asian Le Mans sports car endurance series, driving an LMP2 Oreca with RLR MSport. The team took out the LMP2 AM class at the opening round, in Shanghai, last month.

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