F5000s to rise from the ashes

Despite being badly damaged in a catastrophic workshop fire, two significant Formula 5000s – the ex-Peter Gethin Chevron B24 and the ex-Sam Posey Surtees TS11 – will be rebuilt, according to their owner Greg Thornton.

The fire, which occurred on June 12, destroyed 11 cars at Thornton’s Essex base, but fortunately his two Formula 5000s were distant from the worst of the fire. “We lost all the externals on those two, but they were less burnt than the others,” he said.

Meanwhile, the prolific historic racer has added another famous F5000 to his stable: the ex-Alan Jones Cosworth GA-engined March 75A (above). Recently returned to the UK after 20 years in the USA, it has not run for 18 years.

Chassis 1 was fielded by RAM Racing and Jones won three of the seven races he contested with it in 1975. Thornton plans to take the car to New Zealand this winter.