S5000 launched in Sydney

The fastest motor sport category to hit Australian shores in decades, the CAMS Australian S5000 Championship, has been unveiled at Sydney Motorsport Park today.

The championship will hold six rounds as part of the Shannons Nationals, which includes visits to Sydney Motorsport Park, Phillip Island, Winton, Sandown and two rounds at The Bend in South Australia.

Confederation of Australian Motor Sport CEO Eugene Arocca welcomed the category to the Shannons Nationals.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming S5000 on to the Shannons Nationals calendar next year,” Arocca said.

“There has been significant interest in this new category from competitors and fans alike.

“Feedback from the initial launch of S5000 was extremely positive and sparked plenty of passionate discussion about the exciting future of open-wheel racing in Australia—S5000 is a welcome addition to the Australian motor sport landscape.

“The Shannons Nationals in 2019 will be a terrific mix of really competitive categories, including some of the newest in Australia with both S5000 and TCR Australia set to debut at the first event in Sydney next year, we can’t wait.”

It is anticipated that these modern, sleek race cars, powered by a sealed 5.0 litre, 560hp V8 Ford Coyote ‘Aluminator’ engine, will break the outright lap records at almost all of the venues it visits.

Category Manager Chris Lambden added that ‘the revealing of the S5000 is truly a landmark day for Australian motor sport’.

“There is now the certainty that teams and drivers have been looking for to enable them to commit and plan for 2019,” Lambden said.

“S5000 is going to offer the ‘big-bang’, serious open wheeler racing that Australia hasn’t seen for decades and there’s no doubt that the car and competition package will excite people.”

“Confirmation of the CAMS Australian S5000 Championship schedule for 2019, headlining the Shannons Nationals, is great news all-round.

“It’s the ground base on which the future of S5000 will be built.”

The S5000 chassis features the latest FIA-specification carbon-fibre monocoque with strength, safety and cost-effectiveness the main priorities.

It will also feature the halo protective device, making it the first Australian racing class that will feature the FIA-mandated safety feature.

After initial track laps at the launch in Sydney today, the S5000 machine will head to the Newcastle street circuit to complete demonstration laps in the final round of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship this weekend.