Big field anticipated for Historic Taupo
The 2025 Historic Grand Prix at Taupo International Motorsport Park in New Zealand is set to showcase a field of Formula Atlantic and Pacific machines from across the globe and locally for the January 11-12 event.
The historic category which started in the US and then Britain in the 1970s, eventually shifted to NZ, Australia, and Asia, later becoming known as Formula Pacific, running as such in name until 1983 before being replaced by the FIA-named Formula Mondial series.
In performance terms, they were somewhere between a Formula 2 and Formula 3 machine of the period.
Powered by production-based four-cylinder engines under 1600cc, the DOHC Ford Cosworth engine was the main choice of powerplant for the international category.
At the time they were first introduced to Australia, they ran alongside Formula 5000 cars until they eventually replaced them altogether as the premium national open wheeler category that fought for the Gold Star.
Largely the field composed of Ralt cars powered by Ford Cosworth engines, with some Toyota, and Nissan engines.
International F1 drivers including World Champions Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost and Niki Lauda all competed in the formula. Piquet, Prost and Lauda also competed in Australian GPs run under Formula Pacific regulations at Bob Jane’s Calder Park.
The first of these events was the 1981 Australian GP run in November.
The meeting was dominated by 22-year-old Roberto Moreno who qualified on pole and won by over a lap from Nelson Piquet with Australian Geoff Brabham finishing third.
Kiwi racers racers such as the legendary Kenny Smith, Dave McMillan, David Oxton, Ross Stone, Craig Baird and Paul Radisich all won New Zealand Gold Sars during the Formula Pacific eras.
In Australia our four times Gold Star Champion Alfredo ‘Alfie’ Costanzo won the 1982 and 1983 Australian Drivers’ Championships driving a Tiga FA81 powered by a 1.6-litre, 4 cyl Ford BDA engines.
John Bowe took two Australian Drivers Championships in a Ralt RT4, in the 1984 and ’85 championships and in 1986, Kiwi Graham Watson won in another Ralt RT4 Ford.
The Ralt-Ford RT4 was the most prolific car used, with Moreno winning the Australian Grand Prix in ’81, ’83, and ’84, whilst Prost won in 1982, all at Calder Raceway.
The event in January will also feature a Ford showcase, Saloon cars, Muscle cars, Touring cars, and F5000 machines, the Formula Atlantics will have a standalone race to commemorate the historic gathering.
Kiwi Supercars icon Greg Murphy, who raced them in the 90s, is on the organising team for the event.
“Formula Atlantics are hugely exciting to me because I raced them here in New Zealand in the 90s as a part of my stepping stone into racing, said Murphy.
“I’m a massive fan of the cars; they played a huge part in my career. In the 1980s and 90s, the Formula Atlantics were a pathway to a single-seater career.
“The list of drivers that have come through Formula Atlantics and gone on to bigger and better things is enormous.
“Americans, Europeans and people from all over the world would come to New Zealand over our summer to get experience, log miles and get competition before going back to the Northern Hemisphere to race!”
With motorsport magnate and Taupo owner Tony Quinn as part of the organising committee, others key figures include Murphy, Taupo CEO Josie Spillane.
Kiwi Motorsport co-founder Garry Orton, along with Barry Leitch, Steve Horne, Martin Collins, Kenny Smith, Peter Johnson, and John Tomlin, who are also involved in helping to bring the Formula Atlantic field from across the globe.
“They were very special cars in their time” said Orton.
“They launched the careers of a lot of Formula 1 drivers, just like the Toyota Racing Series has. There are a lot of these cars around the country, and this is an excellent opportunity to get them out of their sheds.
“They’re fast, they sound good … they’re are a different generation of race car.
“We’ve also got a few in the United States that are quite interested in coming over – a couple of those guys who are showing interest raced Formula Atlantics in New Zealand in the early 90s.” Orton confirmed.
Image: Auto Action Archives
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