THE Formula Thunder 5000 open-wheeler that kickstarted what became S5000 has re-emerged and is now on the market.
The brainchild of long-time racer and former Motorsport News publisher Chris Lambden, the Swift FT5000 chassis first appeared in 2016 under the Formula Thunder 5000 banner.
Soon after a rival car, under the banner as Super5000, backed by Supercars and backed by PAYCE and Wilson Security emerged, leading to tense times between the two groups before they eventually came together to form S5000 in 2017.
LAMBDEN TALKS S5000: Chris Lambden opens up on Formula Thunder 5000 and S5000 in the V8 Sleuth Podcast
The FT5000 chassis made its public debut at Muscle Car Masters in Sydney in October 2016 with Tim Macrow at the helm in a white, red and blue livery and featuring a massive F5000-style airbox.
It was demonstrated on the Gold Coast in 2017 (again driven by Macrow) with a new, lower airbox and then headed to Pukekohe where it was driven by open-wheeler legend Kenny Smith.
Based on a Swift Formula Nippon tub (the last ever made, new in 2012), the car features a low-mileage five-litre 550 horsepower Ford Coyote V8 engine complete with InnoV8 fuel injection.
It also features a Holinger six-speed gearbox and includes the unique Holinger bell housing (machined from solid!) and 2.5 full sets of rims with tyres.
The car, which is in Melbourne and has been retained by Lambden, who split with S5000 owner Australian Racing Group earlier this year, is a piece of Australian open-wheeler history and could become the ultimate Formula Libre, track car or hillclimb car.
It’s listed on My105.com, click here for more details including the asking price.
WATCH THE FT5000 IN ACTION ON THE GOLD COAST:
