Paul Zazryn and Bruce Leeson Clinch 2023 F5000 Championship
Rochester, MI – (9/11/23) – The Formula 5000 Drivers Association is pleased to announce the results of its race events to close the 2023 season at Laguna Seca in conjunction with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion and Reunion on August 12-19, 2023.
With a field of approximately 20 cars spanning from 1968 to 1976, the Formula 5000 group celebrated its 55th Anniversary. Participants gathered from across the United States, New Zealand, Australia and England. Several of the major makes of F5000 cars from the 1960s and 1970s were represented, including Chevron, Eagle, Elfin, LeGrand, Lola, McLaren, and McRae. The racing was close and clean. Racing fans, drivers, and promoters enjoyed the racing, sounds and majestic look of the F5000 cars on and off the track.
In the final race of the Reunion on Saturday, August 19, finishing first in F5000 Class A (pre-1972 cars) was Bruce Leeson in a 1969 McLaren M10B. Leeson dominated in all four races of the Reunion and Pre-Reunion running flawless with first place finishes and ahead of several newer race cars. Second in Class A was Paul Kuhl in a 1968 Lola T140 who had an impressive drive in the oldest car in the F5000 group, building up speed throughout the track sessions leading to the final race. Johnnie Crean finished third in class A in a 1969 Gurney Eagle Mk5 who drove a spirited race and was a bit handicapped by mechanical issues during the event.
Finishing first in F5000 Class B (1972-1976 cars) and first overall in the group was Kirt Bennett in the ex-Al Unser Sr. white and blue 1974 Lola T332. Bennett outpaced the rest of the F5000 group with laps times around 1 minute and 22 seconds. After suffering a hit from another car and an early retirement during the first race of the Pre-Reunion and starting from the back of the grid in the second race to a 5th place finish, Bennett battled with Paul Zazryn in the Reunion races to finish first in each of the two races.
Finishing a close second in Class B was Australian driver Paul Zazryn in his red 1974 Lola T332 who put an excellent show with Bennett. Zazryn dominated in the Pre-Reunion taking advantage of Bennett’s misfortune and showed his superb driving skills during the Reunion races being nose to tail with Bennett in the battle of the two Lola T332. Third in Class B was New Zealander Glenn Richards in the beautiful blue and yellow ex-Eppie Wietzes 1975 Lola T400. Richards also scored a 3rd place finish in the first of the Reunion races and after finishing second in the two Pre-Reunion races.
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion also was the final round of the 2023 F5000 Revival Race Championship Series. Bruce Leeson was crowned Champion in Class A after strong races at both Road America and Laguna Seca. This is the second Championship for Leeson since the beginning of the F5000 U.S. Revival Race Series in 2008 with the previous Championship coming in 2015.
Paul Zazryn won the Championship in Class B. Zazryn joined the U.S. F5000 Series at Road America in July 2023 and quickly showed his racing abilities. With Bennett sidelined in the first race of the Monterey Pre-Reunion and handicapped in the second race by starting at the rear of the grid, Zazryn developed a sufficient lead in championship points that Bennett could not overcome after Zazryn second place finishes in both of the Reunion races.
According to Seb Coppola, President of the F5000 Drivers Association, “2023 was another special milestone year for Formula 5000. I congratulate the 2023 Champions. I also want to thank all participants in our 2023 race events and especially our friends from Australia, New Zealand, and England who came from long distances and at great expense to be part of our 55th Anniversary celebration.”
The U.S. Formula 5000 Drivers Association is a membership organization established to promote the restoration, presentation, registration and racing of historic Formula 5000 race cars. (www.F5000Registry.com).
Media:
Seb Coppola 248-601-2800