GRAND PRIX TRIALS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29713, 5 January 1962, Page 10

GRAND PRIX TRIALS

Fast Times Ry N.Z. Men

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. January 4. Two New Zealanders will be on the front row of the grid for Saturday’s Grand Prix at Ardmore after official practice today on a track made treacherous by frequent heavy showers. One will be B McLaren who confirmed that he will be all out for victory in the final race at Ardmore by recording Imm 254 sec for his best tap of the two-mile circuit in his 2.7 litre Cooper. A. Hyslop did some remarkable wet-weather driving in a Cooper with a smaller 2 S-litre motor, for fourth fastest time of the day. Imin 27.35ee. Jack Brabham’s best lap m his Cooper was within o.3sec of McLaren.

A former motor-cycling champion. J. Surtees, took his Yeoman Credit racing team Cooper around in Imin 26.8 sec third fastest practise lap

For much of the day cars circulated in a cloud of spray and in spite of reduced speeds on the bends there were many spins, particularly at college comer. The drivers of the Yeoman Credit entries. Surtees. R. Salvador!. and the Australian. L Davison, found gear ratios unsuitable. had them changed on the spot, but were unable to have another try-out on the circuit.

As heavy rain began falling again the chairman of the Grand Prix rules and race com mittee (Mr R. M. Greirson) said: “Official practice Is defin itely finished. The lap times recorded so far will determine grid positions for the race ” Practise times generally in the unpleasant conditions were much slower than last year when Moss recorded the official record lap of Imin 19 6sec in a heat.

The four Australians. L Davison iCooper). B Stillwell (Aston Martin) A. Glass (B.R.M ) and D McKay (Cooper) formed close company with only lust more than a second covering their best laps, about six seconds behind the leading group The Italian driver. L Band'.ni. had a disappointing Imm SS3sec with the Scuderis centro-sud Maserati, and J Mansel. with the other team car, was almost four seconds slower. In an under-powered two-litre Cooper. A Shelly, of Wellington, drove skilfully for Imin 33 sec P Hoare’s big Ferrari did Imm 34 Bsee during an earlier session tn drier conditions

The fastest laps ot cars taking part in the Grand Prix practise session were:— B. McLaren (Cooper). Imin 234 sec: J. Brabham (Cooper). Imin 2S7sec. J Surtees (Cooper). Imin 2SBsec: A Hyslop (Cooper). Imin 77 3sec: R Salvadori (Cooper). Imin 29sec; L Davison (Cooper). Imin 32 ssec: B Stillwell (Aston Martin) Imin 32" sec: A Shelly (Cooper). Imin 33sec: D McKay (Cooper) Imin 332 sec: A Galls (BRM). Imin 33.75ec: P Hoare (Ferrari) Imin 34Ssec: R F’ockhart (Lotus). Imin 35 3sec: L. Bandini (Cooper Maserati). Imin 363 sec; J Palmer (Lotus). imin 37 7sec: J Mansel ( Cooper Maserati). Imin 40sec: w Thomasen (Cooper). Im n 42 3see: R Smith (Ferrari). Imin 43 7sec.

Tnte Surplus.— Australia had a trading surplus of £117.200.000 for the first six months of 1961-62. cnmnared with a deficit of £146.400 000 for the corresponding period of the previous financial year —Canberra, Jan. 4.