Imagine if the world’s best drivers racing at multiple events across Australia and New Zealand against the leading local contenders, well during the 1960s this did occur during the Tasman Series.
The likes of international stars Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Jim Clark, Phil Hill, Jackie Stewart, Piers Courage, Pedro Rodriguez and Derek Bell joined a strong Tasman contingent including Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon, Frank Gardner, Leo Geoghegan, Kevin Bartlett, Graeme Lawrence and many more.
Comprised of eight rounds split between four circuits in New Zealand and Australia, the Tasman Series combined separate races ending at Tasmania’s Longford Circuit in 1964.
The township of Longford is not far away from Symmons Plains Raceway where the Repco Supercars Championship will race this weekend and provided unique challenges for the drivers.
Hosting the Australian Grand Prix twice, races ended at Longford in 1968 when the Tasman Series was at its most competitive ebb. Many parts of the circuit are still accessible today although a highway cuts through the remains.
Featuring a railway crossing, viaduct and hotel on the inside of one of its corners, it remains a favourite of motorsport historians to this day.
New Zealander McLaren took the inaugural Tasman Series in 1964 before Brits Clark and Stewart shared the prize for the next four years, the former taking three wins. Another Kiwi in Amon rounded out the decade as the winner in 1969.
Why 1968 is considered the best season of Tasman Series starts with Cosworth developing an engine specifically for the trip down under fitted to BRM’s entries due to Formula 1’s change of regulations.
Ferrari also designed and built the Dino 246 Tasmania to compete in the Tasman Series for Chris Amon featuring a V6 engine in addition to cast alloy wheels among other differences compared to its Formula 1 entry.
Clark driving for Lotus took four victories after starting with two retirements to win the series by eight points back to Amon, who took two victories in his Dino. Courage was third in a McLaren M4A Cosworth after winning in Longford.
The other victory went to McLaren at Teretonga Park in a BRM P126.
Gardner was best of the Aussies in equal fourth alongside Hill, finishing a best of second at Pukekohe.
Attending these races, fans and kids alike were able to meet their heroes in the flesh, ask for photographs or just chat to world champions leading to a growth in interest for motorsport during the 1970s. Although, this also shifted to tin tops spurred on by the success of a little race at Bathurst….