Hill Fastest Lap In N.Z. Grand Prix Practice

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30642, 7 January 1965, Page 9

Hill Fastest Lap In N.Z. Grand Prix Practice

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 6.

The 1962 world champion racing driver, Graham Hill, of England, established himself as the fastest driver in the first practice session for the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe today.

Hill, who arrived in the country with Bruce McLaren early this morning, lapped the 2.2-mile circuit consistently at about 90 miles an hour. He made the fastest lap early in the day with the Scuderia Veloce 2.5 RepcoBrabham with a time of Imin 26.75ec (91 m.p.h.). Arriving too late for the morning session but in time for the afternoon practice, Jim Clark, the 1963 world champion, treated the circuit with caution and did no better than a lap of Imin 28.9 sec.

Faster laps were recorded by the Cooper team drivers, Phil Hill (United States) and McLaren. McLaren 2nd Fastest

McLaren, driving Hill’s Cooper, was the second fastest of the day, with a lap of Imin 27.25ec. The best he could do in his own car was Imin 28.3 sec, nearly two seconds slower than his fastest lap while winning the Grand Prix last year. Hill’s best lap of the day was Imin 29sec.

The only other driver to break the Imin 30see mark was the New Zealand champion. Jim Palmer, of Hamilton. His performance was an outstanding one, his 2.5 RepcoBrabham showing a lot of speed. His time of Imin 29.5 sec was the fifth fastest of the day. Other New Zealand drivers to show up well were Johnny Riley (2.5 Lotus), Imin 30.8 sec, Kerry Grant (2.5 Brabham), of Wellington-, Imin 3L6sec, and Red Dawson (2.5 Cooper), of Papatoetoe, Imin 31.8 sec.

Very little time separated the fastest of the 1500 c.c.

cars, the best showing being made surprisingly by a Taihape driver, Dene Hollier, with a Lotus that is several seasons old. He recorded Imin 32.1 sec. The Australian 1500 c.c, champion, Leo Geoghegan, drove his Lotus 32 around the circuit in Imin 32.95ec.

lan Geoghegan, brother of Leo, caused quite a sensation in practice by setting the fastest saloon time of the day, Imin 47.35ec. The closest to him was Rod Coppins, of Manurewa, who recorded Imin 47.55ec in his Corvettepowered Zephyr.