Frank Gardner – F5000 | The “forgotten” drivers of F1

1968 – Frank Gardner, Brabham BT23D Alfa Romeo negotiates Newry Corner at Longford, Tasmania 1968. Perhaps one of the wettest races i have attended. At least i was taking photos, not driving! This pic has its own appeal, i just pressed the button. Frank’s skills were tested and you can see the race was on public roads with spectataors in the most unsafe areas. Fences were barbed wire, no run-off and badly cambered roadway. Photo and info primotipo (R MacKenzie)

1968 Tasman Cup – Warwick Farm with Denny Hulme. Photo Brian Jackson

1968 Tasman series Sandown. Photo Rod McKenzie via Full Throttle Publishing

1969 – Frank Gardner Wednesday – Tasman Series, Warwick Farm Feb 1969. With Jochen Rindt and Piers Courage in final photo. Photos by Brian Jackson via Glen Anthony Paine

1970 Oulton Park European F5000 2nd. Source FB

1970 Oulton Park Int. Gold Cup. Photo John Fenton

1970 Frank Gardner from Graham McRae at Zandvoort in April 1970 – Lola T190 and McLaren M10B, up in front is Peter Gethin in another M10B www(unattributed)… Photo and info from FB of www.primotipo.com

1970 9th August – The front row departs, with Peter Gethin just edging ahead of Frank Gardner (Lola T192) and Howden Ganley (McLaren M10B). Photograph © Tim Blackburn via FB

1971 < Warwick Farm. Photo John /Larry/ Lawton photo via FB

1971 One of the toughest racers Frank Gardner driving the Lola T300 en route to winning the European Formula 5000 Championship in 1971. Photographs Jonathan Ranger Motor Racing Memorabilia

1971 One of the toughest racers Frank Gardner driving the Lola T300 en route to winning the European Formula 5000 Championship in 1971. Photographs Jonathan Ranger Motor Racing Memorabilia

1971 One of the toughest racers Frank Gardner driving the Lola T300 en route to winning the European Formula 5000 Championship in 1971. Photographs Jonathan Ranger Motor Racing Memorabilia

1971 – Frank Gardner, Lola T300 Chevrolet, pole position, round 15, Rothmans European F5000 Championship, Oulton Park, 18th.September 1971. Frank went on to win the race and clinch the championship from Mike Hailwood – info Terry Jacob. Photo JI Croft

1971 F5000 Euro Mallory Park Photo Tony Carwithen

1971 Warwick Farm Lola T192. Photo and info Dale Harvey

1972 Brands Hatch. Photo Romain Moormann

1972 Brands Hatch. Photo Romain Moormann

1971 – 21st August Rothmans International Gold Cup Oulton Park. Photo Alan Cooper

1972 The Lola T300 (initially known as the T242) F5000 car owes much to the great Frank Gardner. He moved close to the Lola factory to work on the project in 1972 with a young & ambitious designer called John Barnard! Info and photo from Lola cars

1972 International Meeting, Warwick Farm Feb 1972. Frank in the Lola T300. Photo by Brian Jackson info via FB group

1972 – Surfers Paradise International Raceway, Tasman Series Round 5 – Rothman’s 100, 6th February 1972. Frank Gardner’s Lola T300 sweeps under the Dunlop Bridge at top speed

Practice day for the 1973 NZ GP – Frank Gardner driving Max Stewart’s Lola T330. Photo and info Milan Fistonic

1972 Warwick Farm 29 October, 1972. Photo Russell Thorncraft

1972 AGP Sandown Frank Gardner in the Lola T300 Chev – finished 2nd place. Photo and info Rod Steffanon

S5000 HERITAGE – FRANK GARDNER – The epitome of a pure, hardened racer, Frank Gardner is pictured in his Lola T300-Chevrolet, strapped and ready for the 1972 Tasman Series race at Warwick Farm. A celebrated all-rounder and champion in open wheelers, touring cars and sportscars, Gardner raced Formula 5000 in both Europe and Australasia. His F5000 honours included victory in the 1971 European F5000 Championship and the 1972 New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe, while his last ever single-seater race came in an F5000 – the 1972 Australian Grand Prix at Sandown in which Gardner finished second. Just part of Gardner’s immense legacy in motorsport are three British Saloon Car Championship (now BTCC) titles, a class victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and an enduring contribution to driver development and road safety, including the renowned Norwell Motorplex facility. Image Credit: AN1Images.com