169 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

That sounds interesting.

 

But really: Isn't that the Thunder 5000 series?

 

https://www.motorspo...-series-913473/

[Risil]

What a tangled web. The best I can understand from those articles is that the Australian Supercars series were initially working with Thunder 5000, but then backed off and launched a competitor with the same basic idea?

 

Sounds a bit like the Fernandez-Lotus/Enstone-Lotus farce from a few years ago. Hope they can work something out cos it's an interesting concept.

[maximilian]

Just observing from the outside, the Thunder 5000 series always seemed a bit hobbled-together, with a no longer used car from another failed series with a few bits bolted on (including that ridiculously huge air box), and didn't seem to make much progress at all since it first surfaced in the news.

 

This here concept seems a lot better developed, with its very own prototype, and backed by Supercars itself, which should make all the difference in the world.  They have engines, sponsors, suppliers, tracks/schedule and plenty of drivers who will want to give it a whirl.  I predict Thunder 5000 will just quietly go away.  Or rather... it hasn't really been anywhere, anyways.

 

Love the optics of these cars, always been a fan of the wide nose 70s look.  Looking forward to watching this (if I find a way to).  Put Simona into one ASAP.

Edited by maximilian, 02 June 2017 - 12:15.

[E1pix]

At first glance this struck me as yet another copycat deal which stagnated IndyCars here for better than a decade.

But this new series does seem to have far more potential.

Bring it on, it's been a helluva wait!

[FPV GTHO]

What a tangled web. The best I can understand from those articles is that the Australian Supercars series were initially working with Thunder 5000, but then backed off and launched a competitor with the same basic idea?

Sounds a bit like the Fernandez-Lotus/Enstone-Lotus farce from a few years ago. Hope they can work something out cos it's an interesting concept.

Supercars has had nothing to do with the Thunder 5000 project. It's quite shameful IMO on their part, and probably just am excuse for Holden teams to offload their V8 architecture as they begin running turbo V6's for next year.

What sort of customer do they expect with the same power but less weight than the touring cars?

[RPM40]

What a tangled web. The best I can understand from those articles is that the Australian Supercars series were initially working with Thunder 5000, but then backed off and launched a competitor with the same basic idea?

 

Sounds a bit like the Fernandez-Lotus/Enstone-Lotus farce from a few years ago. Hope they can work something out cos it's an interesting concept.

 

From my understanding, no. The Supercars series saw the "Thunder" championship as a rival, so they started working on something, there was little interest so they outsourced it while retaining rights. 

 

If either of these series eventuate to anything remains to be seen.

[KnucklesAgain]

I hope they have a good stomach

[HairyScalextrix]

I hope they have a good stomach

They should consider getting Ross Brown involved, he likes a good lunch.

[muramasa]

　

"Super" is reserved for Japon

 

- Super Formula

- Super GT

- Super Aguri

- Super Mario

[E1pix]

That sounds interesting.

But really: Isn't that the Thunder 5000 series?

https://www.motorspo...-series-913473/

Note to HF:

I thought your title meant Supercar DUMPED the Series based on you saying "Lunches" instead of "Launches."

Some might say "I lunched a motor," which is the exact opposite of building one. ;-)

Edited by E1pix, 03 June 2017 - 21:54.

[johnmhinds]

[maximilian]

Decent promo video.  The car looks quite nice, but as I said, I am biased towards the flat nose style ever since.

 

In some ways, I feel that F1 would be well-served to steer down a similar path sooner or later.

[V8 Fireworks]

 

"Genuine open wheel racing is back"

 

Nice implication that Formula 4 is not genuine open wheel racing. 

 

Say what you like about the ethics, Supashock and Fioronotto seem to have designed a well-made racing, very good build quality.

 

Whether it's strange to have the gearbox in front of the rear axle (with the Albins transaxle), rather than behind like a normal formula car transaxle (like the Holinger in the Lamden prototype), is a bit strange but probably not a big deal.

 

They have done well with the retro look... no underbody aero (from what I can see) is an interesting decision.

[Peter0Scandlyn]

Did you mean 'Launches the Super 5000 Series'?

 

Or were you referring to their apparent attempt to lunch the Thunder 5000 Series?

Just curious....

[FPV GTHO]

They're being pretty vague on chassis details. Ft5000 pretty much said from the beginning they were using the Swift chassis.

[E1pix]

Car looks like a re-marqued Lola T332 to me.

[RacingGreen]

Australia could do with a quality open wheel formula, and as a proposal there is a lot to like about this one. Apparently there are 6 expressions of interest so far for 2018 (given the estimated $300,000 price tag) so hopefully something will happen. 

 

We aren't a big market however so it would be helpful if :

a) the motor sport power brokers here could sit down together and get one of the proposals off the drawing board and onto a race track.

b) the formula has some international appeal 

 

 

.....and hopefully "acoustic-optimised" exhaust means in this context "loud"

 

seriously 600 hp open wheel racing round Phillip Island - what's not to like.

Edited by RacingGreen, 04 June 2017 - 08:19.

[superden]

Whatever it is/isn't, I want one.

[V8 Fireworks]

 

seriously 600 hp open wheel racing round Phillip Island - what's not to like.

 

2010 crash specifications only & Avon tyres specifically called "Historics slicks" doesn't really sound like a professional category.   Sounds more like a BOSS GP type deal for wealthy folks to fool around, than a place for the next Senna and Nuvolari to show their talents,

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 04 June 2017 - 10:00.

[V8 Fireworks]

 

.....and hopefully "acoustic-optimised" exhaust means in this context "loud"

 

 

It's a OHV V8... pretty impossible to make it sound bad.  It would need to comply with the same circuit noise restrictions as V8 Supercars.

[johnmhinds]

They're being pretty vague on chassis details. Ft5000 pretty much said from the beginning they were using the Swift chassis.

It looks like it might be built off an old Formula Ford chassis.

[V8 Fireworks]

It looks like it might be built off an old Formula Ford chassis.

 

It clearly says it's a carbon monocoque in the technical specifications,  not a Formula Ford steel spaceframe.    

 

I don't know why you doubt Supashock's (who openly advertise as a fully capable race car constructor) ability to build their own carbon tub or have it subcontracted to an Australian based composites shop... even University Formula SAE and Student teams are building their own carbon tubs these days... it's not that difficult. The carbon-fibre & kevlar materials and the central honeycomb cores needed to make a carbon tub are readily available from wholesale suppliers (they are just expensive!).

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 04 June 2017 - 12:44.

[lustigson]

Looks like nothing more than a retro, amateur racers, spec, series...

 

... and it looks like like a lot of fun to me!

 

Add a couple of retro liveries, and they're go!

[PiperPa42]

2010 crash specifications only & Avon tyres specifically called "Historics slicks" doesn't really sound like a professional category.   Sounds more like a BOSS GP type deal for wealthy folks to fool around, than a place for the next Senna and Nuvolari to show their talents,

The next Senna would never be seen in the series even if it was 2017 crash regulations and new slick tires. There is no super license points to be had and I doubt there ever will be. The next Senna will drive a Formula 4 and then go to Japan, USA or Europe.

[RacingGreen]

2010 crash specifications only & Avon tyres specifically called "Historics slicks" doesn't really sound like a professional category.   Sounds more like a BOSS GP type deal for wealthy folks to fool around, than a place for the next Senna and Nuvolari to show their talents,

 

Well the Tasman series / Rothman's series always had more than it's fair share of gentleman racers didn't it. People who a JIm Clark or a Jack Brabham could make look pretty silly. 

[RacingGreen]

The next Senna would never be seen in the series even if it was 2017 crash regulations and new slick tires. There is no super license points to be had and I doubt there ever will be. The next Senna will drive a Formula 4 and then go to Japan, USA or Europe.

 

Sadly that may be the case (although I it would have to be pretty crap to be worse than many national F4 / F3 championships approved by the Eurocentric FIA to get points,) but that's not who they are aiming at ;- 

 

“Both PAYCE and Wilson are incredibly excited about this project for many reasons, one of them being the opportunity to introduce an exciting open wheel category in Australia the fans will embrace,” said Wilson Group CEO John McMellan. “It is also a way to introduce an incredibly powerful racing car in an affordable package which can be a pathway for younger drivers into the open wheel categories of Europe or the US.”

[maximilian]

Maybe it can be something a bit like SuperFormula in Japan - some hangers-on veterans and guys who never "really made it" in open wheels, but who might be quite good in other categories could duke it out with some of the younger up-and-comers.

 

Edit: forgot to mention:  also would be cool to have some of the Supercars stars run, as well, of course.  Kinda like some Cup drivers run in the Xfinity races.

Edited by maximilian, 05 June 2017 - 22:05.

[HistoryFan]

I really doubt we'll see that cars in 2018.

They joined forced with Thunder 5000 Series and want to create a new car.

But since then no news in the last couple of months.

[GeeVeeF1]

First car has been purchased and Thomas Randle (currently in Formula Renault Eurocup) will drive

Nice video interview with the car's owner, along with some beauty shots of the new car here:
http://www.supercars...irst-super5000/


And testing has been taking place at Sandown:
http://www.speedcafe...super5000-laps/

Edited by GeeVeeF1, 16 September 2017 - 23:22.

[GeeVeeF1]

Love the look of the new car, especially from this angle:

Edited by GeeVeeF1, 16 September 2017 - 23:18.

[maximilian]

Beaute.  Can't wait to see some video of a couple of these running on track!

[Lee Nicolle]

Love the look of the new car, especially from this angle:

Either it has no room in it or adjustable seat!. Leanne is about 5 foot. And I had heard nothing of it being tested at Mallala

[GeeVeeF1]

Beaute. Can't wait to see some video of a couple of these running on track!

Ask and you shall receive!

Here's video of the car on track during the Sandown demo.... love the look of this, the growl... and the flames out the back too! - Enjoy:

https://streamable.com/huu82

[Otaku]

Don't like the paddle shift gearbox. Should have loved a classic H manual gearbox with mechanical clutch.

[SJ Lambert]

I heard about the Mallala test at the time, though it was fairly quiet.

We watched Leanne's demo run on Sunday morning - my 10 year year old reckons he'd watch a grid full of em race!

[PiperPa42]

It certainly looks good, I am just not sure about how attractive they are going to be for drivers looking to continue up to F2/F1

[Alfisti]

Proper damn race car

[statman]

Formula Thunder 5000: a series for those who yearn for the 70s [merged]

 

Same topic from earlier this year?

[Victor_RO]

Formula Thunder 5000: a series for those who yearn for the 70s [merged]

 

Same topic from earlier this year?

 

Actually they're two remarkably similar series concepts, but completely separate in terms of the people pushing them. Formula Thunder was created by someone else, Super5000 is under V8SC's management.

[Sardukar]

Both projects have merged though.

[maximilian]

Both projects have merged though.

 

Oh have they officially?  That's a good thing... even though I would have thought that Thunder5000 doesn't really stand a chance if Supercars is behind Super5000.  Better to pool all resources, teams, etc.

 

Thank you for posting the video, liking what I'm seeing.  That nose.  So low to the ground, I really miss that look in a Formula type race car - not to mention a sensible front wing instead of the ridiculous contraptions F1 has nowadays.

 

Edit: found a link about the merger... sorry if been posted before.

 

http://www.speedcafe...la-5000-merger/

Edited by maximilian, 18 September 2017 - 14:42.

[SJ Lambert]

Australia could do with a quality open wheel formula, and as a proposal there is a lot to like about this one. Apparently there are 6 expressions of interest so far for 2018 (given the estimated $300,000 price tag) so hopefully something will happen. 

 

We aren't a big market however so it would be helpful if :

a) the motor sport power brokers here could sit down together and get one of the proposals off the drawing board and onto a race track.

b) the formula has some international appeal 

 

 

.....and hopefully "acoustic-optimised" exhaust means in this context "loud"

 

seriously 600 hp open wheel racing round Phillip Island - what's not to like.

 

It's demo session that we were trackside for was Sunday morning, straight after the Supercars warm up - it did sound louder than the Sedans !

[Alfisti]

We do need another open wheel option, F1 is just rubbish at the moment. The shitty wings, the stupid noses, the super wide front tyres, the lack of noise/drama from the car itself.

 

meh. 

[Prost1997T]

So far Prodrive Australia have bought one, cost $100,000: https://www.motorspo...000-car-953053/

[SJ Lambert]

I  thought the 100K was a deposit from Rusty......

[pablo_a]

The FT5000 car is the real deal - looks and sounds proper. This V8 supercars thing pales in comparison. they need to get the sound and look right with these cars - as close as possible to a F5000 of years gone by. I really hope the final build includes much more from the FT5000 car and much much less from than the mock-up car that tooled around sandown on the weekend.

[HistoryFan]

So far Prodrive Australia have bought one, cost $100,000: https://www.motorspo...000-car-953053/

has that anything to do with the Prodrive team owned by Dave Richards?

[GazChed]

Hey I've got a great idea ! Why not let the FT5000 and the Supercar 5000 race one another on the same track at the same time !

[pablo_a]

high airbox version looks better...here's the FT5000 cutting a lap at Surfers

 

https://www.facebook...92884247487284/

 

[TecnoRacing]

I don't really follow what's going on...I thought the two series had merged and they were going to use the Supercars version...

 

But the Swift based FT5000 is still running after all (it's V8 sounds way better incidentally)