Motor-Racing Open Field For N.Z. Grand Prix Today

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29714, 6 January 1962, Page 13

Motor-Racing Open Field For N.Z. Grand Prix Today

(Naw Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND. January 5. A blistering pace is likely tomorrow in the ninth and last New Zealand International Grand Prix at Ardmore, a race in which no driver is a safe pick for winner In a staggering driving display during an unofficial practice today. J. Brabham’s Cooper lapped the two-mil* Ardmore circuit almost three seconds faster than the official lap record of Imln IS.Bsec held by S. Moss. The triple-winner Brabham, Moss (twice winner) and B. McLaren (twice runner-up), are all old Ardmore hands. If they do not have mechanical failures they could be involved in a fierce dogfight for most of the race. Up with them should be the Yeoman Credit Cooper drivers. R. Salvador! and J. Surtees. Judged on official practice times the Australian contingent. Davison. Stillwell. Glass and McKay. should be closely bunched. However, the Hastings driver, A. Hyslop. seems likely to put his 21-litr* Cooper ahead of them and gain a high placing. Sloss, who will have to start from the back of the grid through missing Thursday’s practice, chow a Lotus in steadily working his times down today. Although unofficial timekeepers put him seconds away from Braham—about Imin 21sec —he was obviously not trying as hard. Although B. McLaren—secure in the pole position for the big race—did not bring his Cooper out. considering his performance in the wet on Thursday, and that he is driving a car he really likes, he could still still have a slight edge. McLaren himself earlier predicted

lap time* near Imln 17**e an< limn 18**c.

Grid petitions for the 130-mil* race, which will start at 2 pm, with qualilying times, are:— First row: B McLaren (Cooper) Imm 25.4**c J, Brabham (Cooper) Imln 37.7*ec J. Surtees (Cooper) Imm 2S Msec. A. Hyslop (Cooper: Imin 27.35ec, Second row R. Salvador! (Cooper) imin B#sec. L. Davison (Cooper) Imin 32 s«*e. B. Stillwell (Aston Martin) Imin 32.75ec, T. Shelly (Cooper) Imin 33«ec.

Third row: D. McKav (Cooper) Imln 33.25ec. A. Glass (8.R.M.) limn 33.7*ec. P. Hoar* (Ferrari) Imln 34.8»ec. R. Flockhart (Lotus) Imin 33.3**c. Fourth row: L Brandini (Cooper-Maserati) Imin 36 3»ec. J. Palmer (Lotus) Imin 35Jsec Nine New Zealand drivers will be invited to start from the fifth and sixth rows according to their performance in th* Ardmore championship rac* in the morning. S. Mos* (Lotus) will be st til* back of the grid.