Clark Beats Stewart In Levin Race

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31269, 16 January 1967, Page 15

Clark Beats Stewart In Levin Race

Averaging 86.6 m.pJi. in his Lotus-Climax VB. the 1965 world champion racing motorist, J. Clark, won the Wills Levin International by 3sec from his fellow-Scotsman and B.R.M. team-leader, J. Stewart, at the Levin Motor Racing Club’s circuit on Saturday afternoon.

Thus Clark turned the tables on Stewart who, a week previously, had beaten him into second place by s.4sec, in the New Zealand Grand Prix.

But, as had been the case in the Grand Prix, Clark put in the fastest laps at Levin, covering his twentieth and thirtieth tours of the circuit in 47.55ec —an average speed of fractionally more than 89 m.p.h.

Racing nose to tail for the 50.5 miles, the Scottish drivers easily outstripped the rest of the 17-car field. Third was the No. 2 B.R.M. driver, R. Attwood, who finished 7.4 sec ahead of the Australian. F. Gardner (2.5 Repco - Brabham - Climax). These two were flagged off a lap in arrears of the leading pair. x

Fifth, and a lap further back, was the first New Zealander to finish, G. Lawrence (Wanganui), who drove a tenacious race in his underpowered 1.5-litre Brabham Ford.

Next in line were also New Zealand drivers in 1.5-litre cars—D. Hollier (Lotus-Ford) and R. Levis (Brabham-Ford). They completed 40 of the 43 laps of the 1.175-mile circuit to be flagged off a lap behind Lawrence. Hulme Out Notable retirements were those of one of New Zealand’s leading international drivers, D. Hulme; the current national champion, J. Palmer; and D. Marwood, who is leading the Motorsport Association of New Zealand’s Gold Star series at present. Hulme was running fifth in his Repco-Brabham V 8 when he dropped out with ignition trouble about half way through the race. Hampered by brake trouble in his Repco-Brabham-Climax, Palmer was never prominent and retired after about 12 laps.

Seven laps later, Marwood, who was lying ninth in his Cooper-Climax, was forced to abandon the race because of engine trouble.

But unluckiest of all was the Australian, K. Bartlett, whose Repco-Brabham-Climax caught fire as it was being brought from the pits to the starting grid. The fire was quickly extinguished, but not in time for the car to be ready to start in the race. In overcast but warm weather, a crowd estimated at 25.000 watched an 18-race programme. the highlights of which included a narrow win for Clark from Stewart in one of the main race heats; and yet another narrow win for Levis from Lawrence in the second heat, which was confined to the 1.5-litre cars. There was also some spirited racing in supporting events. The Christchurch A4O driver, J. Mullins, had two wins in ail-comer races for cars up to 1300c.c. The Group 2 saloon race for cars up to 1300c.c. went to the Napier doctor. R. B. Langley. while the Aucklander, R. Franicevic. won the main allcomer race for the largerengined cars.

The Masterton farmer. A Buchanan, driving a 250LM Ferrari. came out on top in the sports car events. However, the honour of making the fastest sports car lap went to the Christchurch driver, G. Mardon (Stan-ton-Corvette), who ran a good second.

The main interest in the morning was in the 14-lap preliminary heats for the international race in the afternoon.

In the first, Clark, closely attended by Stewart, won from start to finish, the two constantly whittling down their lap times. Starting off with 48.9 sec, Clark finally came down to 48.5 sec and then Stewart replied with 48.3 sec.

Attwood and Bartlett were third and fourth respectively, a spin in the course of the race relegating Gardner to fifth place. Retirements included Hulme, who made an off-course excursion, and Palmer, who went out with gearbox trouble.

In the second heat, for 1.5-litre cars, Levis withstood a spirited challenge from Lawrence and Hollier to win from end to end. These three outpaced the rest of the field, the fourth and fifth places being taken by W. Stone and L. Brownlie, who had raced neck and neck in their BrabhamFords for the whole distance, some way behind the leading trio. Feature Event In the feature race, it was Clark who made the best of the start with the other front row men, Stewart and Hulme, in close attendance. But, in the second lap. Gardner and Attwood passed Hulme to be third and fourth respectively. A lap later Clark and Stewart had already drawn out a 3sec lead over Gardner, Attwood and Hulme. Lawrence was next about 200 yards behind and closely followed by Hollier, Levis and Marwood. Palmer had already drifted towards the rear of the field. With five laps completed, Clark and Stewart, racing almost wheel to wheel, were 8.4 sec clear of Gardner and Attwood, and Hulme was beginning to drift back. Even at that stage the leaders were preparing to lap the tail-end of the field. In the course of their tenth lap, Clark and Stewart lapped Palmer, who was then lying eighth behind Marwood. It was at this juncture that Attwood made a bid to overhaul Gardner and five laps later he was successful when the Australian had a spin and lost some ground which, try though he did. he was unable to make up during the remainer of the race.

It was also in the fifteenth lap that Clark and Stewart lapped Lawrence, then lying sixth, for the first time.

Five laps later Clark returned a time of 47.55ec for a tour of the circuit and in the process he and Stewart lapped Hulme, whose car did not sound particularly happy. He subsequently drifted back and soon was out of the picture. This let Lawrence, the first of the resident drivers, up into fifth place, well clear of Hollier and Levis. From then on the main In-

terest lay In the Clark-Stewart duel. It was quite obvious that the leader could not afford to make the slightest error, for Stewart was right with him. After 30 laps the pair had gained a complete round of the circuit on Attwood and Gardner; and Attwood seemed to have the measure of the Australian. Clark celebrated this round by returning 45.75ec once more and after that Stewart appeared to tire a little and Clark went on to win. Clark had a particularly bad run of luck in New Zealand last year and the crowd gave him a tremendous ovation as he crossed the finishing line. He had driven an immaculate and calculated race, and, although Stewart had harassed him all the way, the last few laps had clearly shown that he was in full command of the situation. Lawrence, in his 1.5-litre car, was also obviously a favourite with the patrons, being first New Zealander to finish and vanquishing, for the second time in a week, the national 1.5-litre champion, Levis. Did Not Start Clark, Stewart and Palmer did not start in the 10-lap Vic Hudson memorial trophy sprint for the international race drivers Bartlett, no doubt smarting because of his involuntary scratching from the main event, shot to the front from the start and was followed by his teammate Gardner, and Attwood, with Levis, Hollier, and Lawrence next in line. The young Australian held his lead into the third lap and then became involved in a tangle as Gardner attempted to pass him. The upshot was that Attwood hit the front and Bartlett dropped to third place. The Englishman then continued to draw away from the two Australians to finish fairly well clear. Meanwhile, further back in the field, there was a three-cor-nered struggle between Levis, Hollier and Lawrence, with Brownlie tagging along behind. Just after half-way Hollier dropped out with engine trouble and Lawrence quickly asserted his authority to take Levis, and that was the way they finished.