Stewart Laps In Record Time—99mph Average

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30965, 22 January 1966, Page 15

Stewart Laps In Record Time—99mph Average

Jackie Stewart, of Scotland, driving a two-litre V 8 B.R.M. (above) yesterday set the fastest time in practice for today’s Lady Wigram Trophy race.

Stewart’s best time round the 2.3-mile circuit was Imin 23.8 sec, an average of about 99 m.p.h. and a new record. The previous record practice time of 1:26 was set last year by Jim Clark in a 2.5 litre Lotus Climax.

Clark, this year’s world champion, did not record an official practice time yesterday, for after only a few laps in the morning his engine blew up. “You just wouldn’t believe it,” said Clark. The car was taken to Christchurch and a new engine was fitted in time for him to turn in a few laps after time trials had finished. He was unofficially timed about Imin 27sec on a wet track after the new engine had covered only a few miles. The second fastest time was set by the Australian driver, Frank Gardner, who took his 2.5 litre Repco Brabham Climax around in Imin 25sec. The number two B.R.M. driver, Richard Attwood, who won the race at Levin last

week, was third fastest with Imin 25.1 sec. The fastest New Zealand driver was the national champion, Jim Palmer, driving the Lotus Climax 2.5 litre with which Jim Clark won the Lady Wigram race last year. He recorded Imin 26sec. The Manurewa driver, I. W. Dawson (Repco Brabham Climax 2.5 litre), Imin 27.95ec: Denis Marwood (Rothmans Cooper Climax 2.5 litre), Imin 28sec; and the Masterton driver, A. A. Buchanan (Repco Brabham Climax 2.5 litre), Imin 29.55ec. Excluding Clark, these were the only drivers officially credited with times of less than Imin 30sec. 100 m.p.h. Prize

The practice times caused considerable interest, for the race carries a side prize of

£3OO for the first driver to lap at 100 m.p.h. during the race itself. This would mean a lap in 1:22:8, and while Stewart was only one second outside this in practice, it seems unlikely the prize Will be won this year. In the first few laps of morning practice, which was not officially timed, Clark and Stewart returned about equal times, about 1:29. Marwood about 1:34, and Attwood from 1:27 to about 1:25.5. Palmer recorded 1:28, the Australian Spencer Martin (Repco Brabham Climax 2.5 litre) about 1:29, and Gardner about 1:26.2. The B.R.M. drivers were concerned at the very high rate of tyre wear, but as the day wore on and more rubber and oil was deposited on the circuit the rate of wear dropped. Clark’s car started to trail a plume of oil smoke that marked the beginning of the end for his engine. Attwood and Stewart swapped cars. In Attwood’s car Stewart dropped his lap time to 1:25.2 and then to 1:25.1.

The New Zealand and Australian 1.5 litre champion, Roly Levis, - was another driver to experience bad luck during practice; a rear suspension member broke and sent his Brabham off the track. The car was damaged, but Levis was not hurt. He is expected to be on the grid today. Of the sports cars L. Brownlie (Daimler SP2SO) was one of the most spectacular, but B. E. Porter (Lotus 15) was latest at 1:39. G. Mardon (Stanton Special) clocked less than Imin 45 sec. Gardner, after changing gear ratios, put In four or five fast laps, clocking about Imin 25.55ec. Crossed Track Gardner had a bad moment when a saloon crossed his track on the main straight. He braked hard, weaved, and missed. Most of the saloons got down to some fast lapping fairly quickly. K. Grant in the Mini Sengfned A4O recorded about Imin 42sec; J. Mullins (Mini S), about Imin 47.95ec; D. A. Simpson (Lotus Anglia),- about Imin 46.8 sec, and Martin (Ferrari 250 LM), about Imin 36sec. Swapped Cars Attwood and Stewart changed cars at the start of the time trials, but later changed back. Stewart set his record time in his own car. Attwood and Gardner had a fine tussle around the circuit, but were very evenly matched. Saloons and sports cars ran their time trials after the main race cars, P. Fahey raced with D. Simpson, also in a Lotus Anglia with a built-on fastback. during the trials, got past him for a slightly faster ’time. In the production saloon class I. Segedin (Ford Mustang) was credited with Imin 42.65ec. J. Mullins (Mini Cooper S) chased R. B. Langley (Mini Cooper S).

Mullins was credited with a best lap of Imin 46.65ec, Langley with a best of Imin 49.65ec. F. Hamblin (Cooper S) recorded Imin 49.65ec and all the other drivers were above Imin 50sec, the fastest including C. Jepson (Lotus Cortina), B. Innes (Mini S) who recorded Imin 50.4 sec; D. Bruton (Mini S). and R. D. Monk (Mini S). Amongst the sports cars and specials entered for the Motor Racing Club championship Martin’s Ferrari was fastest, with the Lotus of Porter next with Imin 35.95ec. J. Boyd’s Lycoming was next with Imin 36.45ec, and G. Mardon (Stanton Corvette) recorded Imin 38.5 sec. B. Hawes in the Tojeiro Jaguar, who had earlier had a spectactular spin and clipped some bales, recorded Imin 41.2 sec. R. J. Stewart in the Robat Mantis recorded Imin 48.5 sec. Amongst the all-comers' saloons Martin in the Ferrari, which will race in this class as well as with the sports and specials, recorded Imin 35.25ec. Fahey recorded Imin 39.55ec, Simpson Imin 39.95ec. K. Grant Imin 41.6 sec, R. Coppins (Zephyr Corvette) Imin 46sec, R. A. Silvester (Chevrolet Corvette Coupe) Imin 44.75ec, and A. F Moffatt (Lotus Cortina) Climax) Imin 48.2 sec. W. Collins in the Ford-powered Morris Minor, which sported an aerodynamic nose cowl, recorded Imin 50.4 sec.