S5000 reveals car, 2019 calendar at series launch 

The first completed S5000 single-seater has been officially revealed alongside plans for a six round series on the Shannons Nationals bill for its inaugural season next year.

Series organisers took the covers off the car at an official launch at Sydney Motorsport Park where the bespoke chassis logged its first public laps.

The bespoke Onroak-Ligier chassis powered by a sealed 5.0 litre, 560hp V8 Ford Coyote ‘Aluminator’ engine has been dubbed as Australia’s answer to IndyCar and is set to break lap records across the country.

A host of Supercars identities are expected to witness the car’s first laps today including Ryan Walkinshaw, Brad Jones, and Todd Kelly.

Nissan Motorsport’s Andre Heimgartner and former Supercars full-timer Jason Bright were also present at the launch.

The series is yet to announce entrants for 2019 but has attracted plenty of interest.

“This is the motorsport category that is going to shake up the industry,” said Matt Braid, director of promoter Australian Racing Group (ARG). 

“For many years, we’ve been yearning for a local, cost-effective, premier open wheel motorsport category, and we have no doubt that the S5000 package is the car to deliver what is needed.”

ARG confirmed that the series will begin at the Shannons Nationals Sydney Motorsport Park season opener from May 17-19 alongside TCR Australia.

The news arrives having investigated the possibility of running as a support series at Supercars events. 

S5000 will also take in rounds at Phillip Island, Winton, Sandown, as well as two visits to The Bend Motorsport Park.

The open wheel category is also investigating opportunities to hold non-championship events, pending discussions with other racing promotors.

Other possible calendar inclusions could also see the revival of a Tasman Series, including events in New Zealand over the summer.

Category manager Chris Lambden is hoping the launch will trigger the first confirmed entries, while revealing that talks to feature at Supercars events in the future are ongoing. 

“The revealing of the S5000 is truly a landmark day for Australian motorsport,” said Lambden.

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

“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.

“There are discussions also going on with Supercars, among other promotors, with a view to S5000 running at some of their events, which will certainly add some icing to the cake.”

The car is set to make its full public debut at this weekend’s Coates Hire Newcastle 500, where it will be driven by Greg Murphy and John Bowe.

S5000 2019 calendar