Formula Atlantic/Pacific was introduced in New Zealand as the new premier single seater category in 1976, replacing Formula 5000. F5000 had been struggling for some time in New Zealand, with car numbers dwindling, and the cars themselves proving expensive to run and often quite unreliable. Really, even the die-hards had to admit, the writing was on the wall for F5000.
The category was created in the US by the Sports Car Club of America, and although it never achieved the huge spectator, sponsor, and superstar driver levels the SCCA's Can-Am and Trans-Am series did, still the US F5000 category was the richest in the world. And F5000 chassis makers built cars knowing most would find American buyers. With the Can-Am having died in 1974, the SCCA looked to try and rekindle some of its magic, and essentially made F5000 into a centre-seat Can-Am series. So, by 1976, it was very difficult to actually purchase a new F5000 chassis. There was really only one direction the class could take. It continued on in Australia for several more years, but in New Zealand, was replaced by Formula Atlantic, or, as it was known in NZ, Formula Pacific.
The Atlantic formula tended to polarise enthusiasts. People either loved it or hated it. Certainly, the small capacity, high revving Atlantic cars didn't make the ground shake like the old F5000's did. But as F5000 was reaching the end, so there was very little variety of chassis' to be had. Lola had pretty well cornered the market. With the new Atlantic formula, there was a vast array of different chassis' available. Furthermore, while F5000 was contested largely by drivers in the middle of their racing careers, Atlantic drivers were fresh-faced, fearless, and beating a path to Formula 1. And some of the driving was astonishing.
So while many F5000 drivers remained in the category for several years, those contesting Formula Atlantic viewed it as a stepping stone, to arrive, make an impact, and climb another rung up the ladder to Formula 1. And while most Atlantic drivers weren't actually in the category long enough to build a fan-base, it was fun to watch their progress beyond their time in the formula.
By the early 1980's, Atlantic had largely gone the way of F5000, in that one single chassis dominated. By the early 1980's, if you showed up for an Atlantic race with anything other than a Ralt RT4, you weren't going to win. Towards the end of the decade, the RT4 dominance had finally been ended by the Swift DB4. Likewise, if you didn't own a Swift, you were there to make up the numbers. But the early years of Formula Atlantic featured a great variety of cars, all a bit different to the next, all battling, like their drivers, to emerge on top.
This chapter of Graeme Bennett's collection of historic New Zealand motor racing photos focuses on Formula Atlantic/Pacific. The photos are all from either Pukekohe or Bay Park, and most are during the early, pre-Ralt RT4 years of the formula, so there are some interesting cars pictured. I've split the Atlantic collection into two parts, as there are about 100 photos in all. This first chapter features all the photos from Bay Park, plus a small number from Pukekohe. I hope you enjoy these. I think these are some of the prettiest cars ever to have raced.
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Originally Posted by Michael Clark
