The CAMS Australian S5000 Championship has had a major boost ahead of its inaugural season, with Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) to provide total technical support in 2019.

The technical alliance will see the experienced Virgin Australian Supercars Championship team build the first batch of chassis, as well as providing parts support for Australian Racing Group’s (ARG) newest category.

GRM will take an initial delivery of 13 all-new open-wheeler’s chassis and will be in charge of significant engineering, fabrication and the composite construction of the car.  

Following the announcement, team principal Garry Rogers was confident his strong team of 36 workers were capable of getting the category off its feet.

“We’ve taken on the opportunity to get these S5000 cars built, completed and ready to go for 2019,” Rogers said. 

“I have no doubt that we have the workforce to be able to do this.  

“This is a serious open wheeler racing category. This new S5000 car will be safer, stronger, more durable and the reliability factor will be enormous compared to what they used to be.

“Back in the 70s, Formula 5000, with flames and sparks, provided very exciting racing. With S5000, I have no doubt that Australia has a real chance here.

“The rest of the world is toning down on motor sport, and we need to tone up and these cars will give Australian motorsport fans a really exciting spectacle.”

S5000’s Category Manager Chris Lambden was also thrilled with the new partnership, Lambden lauding the facilities of Rogers and son Barry’s reputable team.

“The commitment by Garry, Barry and GRM to the production of S5000 cars is a fantastic vote of confidence by them in the formula and the CAMS Australian S5000 Championship,” Lambden said. 

“The facility and personnel available at GRM will be a big boost to the production process, following on from the design and development of the car, overseen by Michael Borland, who will still be involved in a consultancy role.

"Following the successful launch, the recent demo runs with the first car and the reaction to it, this is another crucial box ticked in terms of delivering what we expect will be a super addition to the Australian and New Zealand motor sport scene.”

With the popular GRM often regarded as a talent-finding team, unearthing Supercars champions Steve Richards, Jamie Whincup and 2018 champion Scott McLaughlin, ARG Director Matt Braid was excited with what the team could do for the category’s future.  

“Having worked with GRM previously, I have witnessed first-hand the ability and dedication of their skilled team of engineers, fabricators and mechanics,” Braid explained.

“It is extremely pleasing to be able to form an alliance with them to build the first batch of S5000 cars that will be sold and leased to the teams and drivers to compete in the inaugural CAMS Australian S5000 Championship in 2019.

“GRM’s desire to form this alliance with ARG is a fantastic endorsement of the S5000 category, and with exciting developments ahead for S5000 in Australia and New Zealand, we are now setting our sights on a new era of great open wheel competition.”

While Garry Rogers Motorsport will build the initial cars, Borland Racing Developments will continue to play a key role in the car’s development after working on the initial design, engineering and construction on the debut S5000 car. 

The CAMS Australian S5000 Championship recently announced their 2019  calendar with all six rounds of the inaugural season to take place at every round of the Shannons Nationals.

 The CAMS Australian S5000 Championship will head to Sydney Motorsport Park for the historic first round on 17-19 May 2019.