Thunder in the park with F5000

Formula 5000 may have been on its last legs in Europe by October 1975, but that didn’t prevent a superb race at Mallory.

Belgian Teddy Pilette led all the way in his VDS Lola, but there was an epic battle behind him between David Purley’s Chevron and the Lola of Bob Evans. This ended in a clash at the hairpin, though both men struggled on. Evans, with bent exhaust pipes, soldiered to the end and only lost second place on the final lap, when he was passed by Guy Edwards and Alan Jones.

Evans did equal the circuit lap record of 41.4sec, set the previous year by Ian Ashley.

Mallory’s F5000 Stars
Peter Gethln: wins in 1969 and ’70.

Mike Hailwood: double winner in ’71.

David Purley: won two Group Eight races in ’76 with F5000 Chevron.