Motor Racing FLOCKHART SETS NEW WIGRAM LAP RECORD

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28802, 24 January 1959, Page 7

Motor Racing FLOCKHART SETS NEW WIGRAM LAP RECORD

If the lap times set up at the circuit last evening are a true indication of the capabilities of the cars, then the Lady Wigram Trophy race today should be extremely interesting, x.t the practice which began at 5 p.m., the Jap record held by the late Archie Scott-Brown in a Lister-Jaguar was broken by the two overseas drivers— Ron Flockhart (8.R.M.) and . Jack Brabham (CooperClimax)— while the New Zealanders, Bruce McLaren (CooperClimax) and Ross Jensen (Maserati) were hard on their heels. Flockhsß-t now holds the Wigram lap record with a time of Imin 2i.6sec, which is 2.2 sec faster than the time established by the onehanded Scott-Brown when he won at Wigram last year. Flockhart thus qualifies for the pole position at the grid start today, and has a big psychological advantage, knowing his car is probably the fastest in the race. In blue overalls with “Owen Racing Organisation” embroidered on the pockets, the B.R.M. mechanics fussed over the car before the practice, and left n>/thing to chance. Two mechanics have come out f; a -igland with the car, and although the news of Mike Hawthorn’s death (he formerly drove for 8.R.M.) had shocked them, they enthusiastically discussed the gear ratios most suitable for the circuit. The £50,000 car is one 'of six which will be raced by Mr A. G. B. Owen in the coming world championship . series of Formula I races. ♦ Skilful Display Flockhart, twice winner of the 24-hour sports car race at Le Mans, was not in the least sparing of the throttle in the practice laps. The B.R.M. answered to his foot with terrific acceleration. Around the hangar bend. Flockhart i _d the full width of the road in a four-wheel drift, took a careful line through the chicane, and then was accelerating again on the gentle curve which leads to the back straight. Once on the straight, the engine was reaching almost maximum revolutions in a low-pitched roar before Flockhart cut off the power and began using the powerful disc brakes for the approach to the S-bend. The Scotsman’s display around the whole course was precise and skilful, and if the car lasts the distance he should win the race today. But while the B.R.M. pit was quietly confident of the car’s showing, Jack Brabham, the world Formula II champion, was putting up some excellent lap times, and also beat the old record. Brabham’s best lap was Imin 22.65ec, and Flockhart cannot afford to slack for pne second today if he is to keep Brabham’s amazing little Cooper behind him. Brabham was wearing dark glasses to see better in the low sun, and his driving was probably the tidiest on the circuit. For Brabham today’s race ends his present visit to New Zealand, for he will fly to Melbourne on Sunday to. compete at Orange. Then he will fly . back to New Zealand again Li a week’s time and prepare for the international race at Teretonga Park in Southland. New Zealand’s Hope New Zealand’s greatest hope in big-time motor racing is Bruce McLaren. He was runner-up to Brabham for the world Formula II championship last season. With a new rear wishbone fitted to the car after it had broken at Levin last week-end, McLaren put up a best lap time of Imin 25.35ec, and headed the list of New Zealand drivers. It is probably the difference in engine capacity between his car and Brabham’s—--240 c.c.—will show more on the faster Wigram circuit than it did at the New Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore, but McLaren nevertheless has the skill to overcome a slight disadvantage in engine power. • Ross Jensen, who caused much amusement at the circuit with his definition of the B.R.M. —“a

bacon slicer,” apparently because the rear inboard brake protrudes below the back of the car and is clearly seen by following drivers —-had his El Salvador Maserati in beautiful condition. With a Very high-pitched wail, the distinctive pointed-nose blue and yellow car sped around the track and recorded a best lap of Imin 26sec. A former race winner ,at Wigram, Hec Green was a busy man in the pits of T. E. Clark (Ferrari). Working as a mechanic, Green must have been greatly pleased to see the Ferrari put in a lap at Imin 27Jsec. A car which genuinely surprised Christchurch motor-racing officials was the Cooper-Bristol of L. R. Gilbert, of Hamilton. With excellent roadholding and an extremely potent engine, this machine headed off several better known cars with a time of Imin 319 sec. This is a car which will be closely watched today and it could well finish in a very high placing. For the New Zealand hill-climb champion, R. C. Campbell, the day was not a happy one. His 4 CLT Maserati was consistently oilingup, and it will be a race against time to get the car on the starting grid today. The fastest lap times of those drivers who practised last evening (which is the order of their position on the starting grid today) were:— » Ron Flockhart (Scotland), B.RM.. Imin 21.6 sec: Jack Brabham (Australia), Cooper-Climax, Imin 22.65ec; Eruce McLaren (Auckland). Cooper - Climax. Imin 25.35ec; Ross Jensen <Auckland), Maserati, Imin 26.25ec; T. E- Clark (Auckland), Ferrari Super Squalo, Imin 27.25ec; J. Mansell (Tuakau) Maserati, Imin 28sec; P. M. Hoare (Christchurch), Ferrari, Imin 29.35ec; R. A. Gibbons (Wellington), Lycoming Special. Imin 30sec; L. R. Gilbert (Hamilton), Cooper Bristol. Imin 31.9 sec; F. D. Cantwell (Christchurch), Tojeiro Jaguar, Imin 32.45ec; J. Palmer (Hamilton) Lotus, Imin 39.95ec.