COSTANZO CUP TO BE AWARDED AT PHILLIP ISLAND
Costanzo Cup to be awarded at Phillip Island – Image: InSyde Media
The winner of Round 2 of the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship at Phillip Island will be the recipient of the Costanzo Cup.
By HEATH McALPINE
Following on from three-time Gold Star winner John McCormack being honoured at the title’s opening round at Symmons Plains, rival Alfredo Costanzo will be recognised at the upcoming Phillip island event.
The 78-year-old will present the award in person to the driver at Phillip Island following the S5000 Feature Race.
“I am flattered and honoured to have a trophy named after me in this new generation of Australian open-wheel racing,” Costanzo said.
“I have watched S5000 closely since the category was announced and I am impressed with the cars, the racing and the drivers competing.
“It’s a wonderful category and great to see this new era of the Gold Star, which is an award that has special significance for me.
“I am looking forward to being at Phillip Island to see the cars in person and present the trophy to the winner.”
A two-time Gold Star winner in its Formula 5000 era, Costanzo won four titles overall during a successful association with Porsche Car Australia distributor Alan Hamilton.
Costanzo was born in Calabria, Italy and emigrated with his family to Australia at the age of 14 in 1957 before starting his motor racing career seven years later competing in a Lotus.
His Gold Star debut occurred in 1976, winning the first of his 17 Australian Drivers’ Championship races during that season.
Costanzo won his first crown in 1980, narrowly beating John Bowe to the title after finishing fourth in the Australian Grand Prix behind then-newly crowned World Drivers’ champion Alan Jones, Alfa Romeo’s Bruno Giocamelli and Didier Pironi.
He clinched back-to-back titles in Formula 5000’s last hurrah in 1981, before taking a further two championships in Formula Pacific machinery.
Costanzo continued to race until the late-1990s, racing a factory Maserati Ghibli in production car events before retiring, however he did return to racing a McLaren M10 Formula 5000 owned by former patron Hamilton.
The second round of the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship headlines the Australian All Wheels Festival at Phillip Island on February 20-21.
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