OFFICIAL S5000 CHASSIS NAME REVEALED
A new name for the chassis, which competes in the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship has been revealed.
Designated as the Rogers AF01/V8 after consultation with key stakeholders, it comes after being termed as S5000s without an official name since the class debuted at Sandown in 2019.
The name recognises Garry Rogers Motorsport’s influence during the development of the package and constructing all S5000 chassis.
AF stands for ‘Australian Formula’, representing the truly local idea first launched by current S5000 category development manager Chris Lambden with a key contribution from Mike Borland in 2016. It also represents the category’s role as the highest level of Australian open-wheel racing, assuming the prestigious Gold Star tag this year.
Finally, 01 completes the name to highlight this as the first generation.
“When you look back over the history of Australian Motorsport, some of the most incredible stories come from the people who built and raced their own cars,” said GRM director Barry Rogers. “It’s pretty special to add the Rogers name to that list with this new era for the Gold Star.
“People look at these cars and think that they are an international open-wheeler, but they are really a showcase for Aussie engineering and what our motorsport industry can do. Outside of the chassis and the engine sourced from the USA, everything has been done in Australia and that makes them a very unique racing car with enormous local input and skill behind it.
“As much as GRM played a major role in bringing the S5000 concept to life, it’s important to acknowledge Chris Lambden and his vision to create a modern Formula 5000 race car and the original prototype work that Mike Borland and his team at Borland Racing Development tirelessly worked on.
“We also wouldn’t be in this position without the incredible influence and vision of Brian Boyd, who has been such a great supporter of the category and our sport in general.
“It’s going to be really special for Garry and especially our whole team, who have put in so much time and effort into producing these cars, when the field of cars sporting the name ‘Rogers’ rolls out of pit lane for the final round of this year’s Championship in Sydney.”
Constructed by GRM at its Dandenong workshop, the carbon-fibre Ligier-Onroak chassis is made specially for S5000, while InnoV8 Race Engines in Queensland developed and hand-built the Ford Coyote V8-engine powering the open-wheel beasts.
Melbourne-based Holinger and MoTeC provided both the drivetrain and electronics respectively. Local products feature throughout the suspension and steering systems.
The Rogers AF01 is the latest in an array of locally developed open-wheelers to be constructed in this country, joining Cheetah, Elfin, Matich and more.
Sydney Motorsport Park hosts the final round of the inaugural S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship on May 1-2.
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