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

Points table from Autocourse 1975/76 p197-198.