Cooper Mystery McLAREN NOT THE ANSWER?

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30892, 27 October 1965, Page 19

Cooper Mystery McLAREN NOT THE ANSWER?

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON.

The decline of the Cooper Car Company since its motor racing victories in 1959 and 1960, when twice its Formula One car won the world manufacturers’ championship, has puzzled many people.

Part of the answer was supplied by the 42-year-old Mr John Cooper in a recent weekly magazine.

He said what reduced the company to “mere plodding" .was the loss of the Australian ' driver. Jack Brabham, who ; wanted to race his own cars. I “We’ve never had a driver I of his calibre since.” Mr Cooper is quoted as saying. ! “1 thought that with us, Bruce McLaren (New Zealand) could make a world champion, and we put all our ‘eggs in that basket. 1 was wrong, that’s all. “I rate Clark, Surtees. Stewart, Gurney. Hill and i Brabham as the best six in

the world right now—in that order. “And Bruce is the best number two driver in the world."

Has Own Plans

(McLaren drove for Coopers !for the last time at Mexico | City on Sunday. He now plans jto set up his own Formula J One team.)

Cooper is also quoted as saying: “In 1959 and 1960 we had a car a year ahead of its time.

“After that everyone had basically’ the same kit of ! parts—with better drivers. Lotus did more development than Coopers—in a sense they had more incentive to de- | velon. “They had Jim Clark, who i i got better and better. And Colin Chapman has added a| deal more science to the ideas we introduced.'’ One of “New Men” In the same magazine, the 22-year-old New Zealand racing driver. Chris Amon, is [listed as one of “the new men.” This article says that Amon is one of the youngest drivers to reach grand prix status. He escaped with multiple, grazes and broken ribs after’ crashing in the 1963 Italian! Grand Prix and returned “a I more mature driver." Since then he had scored several world championship, placings in hie Lotus 8.RJ1.1