The Greg Crick S5000 interview goes viral.
In a news feature published in the latest issue of AUTO ACTION highly respected motorsport identity Greg Crick spoke to Publisher and Editorial Director Bruce Williams to argue why the open wheel category needs to be embraced before it’s too late.
He discusses the hurdles that, he believes, are holding competitor numbers in open-wheeler formula S5000 back, have drawn significant comment/feedback, and now with only nine competitors at this weekend’s Phillip Island S5000 round, the long term viability of the category must be questioned.
Now is the time to act and Crick feels that it’s not being given a fair go by all.
Crick’s interest comes from having been invited to engineer Garry Rogers Motorsport’s S5000 entry for PremiAir Racing Supercars driver James Golding at the Tasmanian S5000 round in February.
The experience left Crick impressed with the car and he will once again oversee Golding’s car at this weekend’s Phillip Island round, but he is concerned about some of the barriers being put in the category’s way, in particular for drivers hoping to potentially race a Supercar.
Greg Crick working with James Golding in the Garry Rogers Motorsport garage at Phillip Island. ARG Images Supplied
“It’s pretty simple – they all are told that unless they take the Super2 route, they’re never gonna drive a Supercar,” he told AUTO ACTION.
“I think that’s probably the main part of it and I think that’s pretty unfair. I don’t think there’s enough credit put on S5000 – what it takes to drive one, the skill it takes to drive one well, and safely.
“James is living proof in my eyes. He was already a good driver. He drove quite well when he was in Supercars before, but I believe from watching him that his driving, back in a Supercar, improved after he drove S5000.”
Crick also questioned Motorsport Australia’s selective ban on S5000 from racing at Bathurst.
“All of a sudden, they’ve decided that those cars are so dangerous that they’re going to fly over the fence into the crowd and and kill someone?,” he said.
“It’s not like we haven’t seen other cars get airborne. I remember seeing an Aussie Race Car go over the fence and land outside the racetrack at Bathurst – and they still race there!
“Any race car can fly if the wheels get tangled or they ride over bodywork. I don’t understand what this is all about.”
Greg Crick with his grandson Charlie Parker on the grid at Tasmania. Image: Hobart Mercury
At the same time, Crick pointed to the successful names in Supercars who came from success in S5000’s predecessor, Formula Holden.
“Look back at the open-wheeler drivers who went on to success in touring cars,” he said.
“There’s been some rippers – Mark Skaife, Craig Lowndes, Jason Bright, Mark Larkham, Rick Kelly, Neil Crompton, Bargs … all came from Formula Holden.”
“Lets not forget that our Trans-Tasman IndyCar stars Scott Dixon and Will Power also came out of starts in our local big banger open wheel racing as it was back in the day-Formula Holden.
”These cars are even better to race and run than Formula Holden was back in the day and it’s time everyone recognises that and gets on board.” Crick said.
The ‘Father’ of S5000, Chris Lambden, has welcomed Crick’s pro-active support.
“Greg is a very respected person in and around Australian motorsport, so I hope people in authority around the place sit up and take notice,” he said.
S5000 held relatively clean races on the streets of Surfers Paradise last year. Image: Jack Martin Photography
“There certainly have been some unique and frankly disturbing hurdles put in the way of something that has strong public support and potential competitor make-up.
“Yes, entries are modest at this early part of the year – but it’s not just due to the general economic situation, which is keeping numbers down across a lot of motorsport at the moment.
“There are some high-profile events coming up in the second half of the year, and I’m confident that, if we can knock over a hurdle or two, then S5000 will regain even better numbers.”
The feature length story – ‘Gold (Star) – a solid investment’ is in our current issue 1860, available now at your newsagent or available for download in the latest issue of the Auto Action digital magazine here.
For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
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