Graham Hill To Miss Wigram Trophy Race

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31247, 20 December 1966, Page 10

Graham Hill To Miss Wigram Trophy Race

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY. The leading English racing driver, Graham Hill, will miss the Tasman championship motor-racing series, Which begins next month. The secretary of the Australian Automobile Racing Club, Mr G. Sykes, said Hill would not contest the series because of sponsorship problems. There was still a chance of his racing in the Australian Grand Prix at Warwick Warm on February 19, if a sponsor could be obtained.

The former world champion, Jim Clark, of Scotland, who won last year’s Australian Grand Prix, was definitely coming to contest the series, Mr Sykes said.

In a telephone conversation with Mr Sykes, Hill said he was disappointed he could not make the trip. Jackie Stewart, the current Tasman champion, will contest the series again, flying to Britain after the first races in New Zealand, and returning to Australia for the final racing. B.R.M. is expected to enter two promising formula 3 drivers, Piers Courage and Chris Irwin in the Tasman series in his place. Courage is the son of a prominent English brewing family which intends to begin business in Melbourne in the near future. The Australian holder of the world formula 1 racing title, Jack Brabham, is not sure of his commitments and may miss the New Zealand section of the Tasman Series.

The second member of Brabham’s team, the New Zealander, Dennis Hulme, is expected to compete. Australian drivers expected to enter are the Gold Star champion, S. Martin, the 1.5 litre national champion, J. Harvey and K. Bartlett.

Entries for the Australian Grand Prix open here on Wednesday.

Tasman series events for the coming season are: January 7, New Zealand Grand Prix, Auckland; January 21, Lady Wigram Trophy, Christchurch; February 12, Lakeside, Queensland; February 19, Australian Grand Prix, Warwick Farm, Sydney; February 26, Sandown Park, Melbourne; March 4-6, Longford, Tasmania.

Sir Walter Nash, a patient in Bowen street Hospital, was progressing satisfactorily, his medical adviser said. Sir Walter Nash was in hospital for a “necessary rest.” —(P.A.).