Two MG Racers took on an international feast of Formula 5000’s at the 29th Phillip Island Classic.
Rob Splatt and Adrian Akhurst both took on the full field of Formula 5000’s with some 20 cars from Australia and New Zealand in the trans tasman challenge.
Splatt took it easy in just his second outing in his March 732A, the car formerly run by Graham Smith is a 1973 ex ‘Ecurie Santos’ car imported to Australia in 1978 where it has run ever since. Splatt debuted the car at Eastern Creek in 2017 and has been taking his time to get used to the car, describing it as “the most amazing car I have driven, just brutal” and wary of its potential. Splatt qualified just 19th before finishing the opening race 18th, 17th, 18th and DNF and DNS rounded his weekend out. The car suffered some mechanical issues will Splatt hopes to sort out shortly, noting the ownership is a learning curve for himself.
Akhurst driving a Lola T332, This car has a very good history being ex Teddy Theodore (who ran Alan Jones amongst many well known drivers) this car was driven by Derek Bell (former Le Mans 24 hour winner), Akhurst in just his second run since taking ownership of the car with son Cameron and doing a full restoration suffered challenges getting to the grid and missed qualifying and race 1, starting rear of the grid he finished race 2 16th, race 3 15th and race 4 14th before not starting the final race.
