HULME AGAIN HAS CHANCE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31780, 10 September 1968, Page 19

HULME AGAIN HAS CHANCE

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MONZA (Italy). D. Hulme, the New Zealand driver, has shown that he has a chance of winning the world drivers’ championship for the second time in succession. Hulme, ' without a single win in grand prix races this season, suddenly rose to fourth placing in the world formula one driving standings after a strong win in the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday. Many drivers and spectators at the Monza race claimed it looked like a victory by default. After all, G. Hill (Britain) —who had just cut a huge cake with 100 candles for the number of grand prix he has participated in—lost a wheel and withdrew from the race. Hill is leading the championship with 30 points. Amon Forced Off Before Hill withdrew, J. Surtees (Britain) hit a guardrail with his Japanese Honda and skidded to a halt. He forced C. Amon, of New Zealand, to drive his Lotus Ford off the track. Amon dropped to seventh in the standings with 10 points. That left the Scotsman, J. Stewart, the Belgian, J. Ickx, and Hulme to fight it out. Stewart took over at the thirtieth lap for 12 laps of leadership, but again mechanical problems were on Hulme's side and Stewart had

a long halt at the pits at the forty-second lap. By that time the race was Hulme’s. Course Record When spectators took a second look at his time for the 50 laps, they had a surprise. The New Zealander had set a new course record for the race, covering the 243 miles in Ihr 40min 14.8 sec at an average speed of 145.4 miles an hour. The previous over-all record of 140.50 miles an hour was set last year by Surtees. J. Oliver (Britain) driving a Lotus-Ford, set a new lap record with a speed of 148.69 miles an hour before gearbox trouble forced him out of the race. The late J. Clark set the previous lap record at 145.33 miles an hour. His nearest rival was not even Ickx, who was nosed out in a burst of speed by a French newcomer, J. ServozGavin, in a Matra Ford. Servoz-Gavin took second place after his sprint over the last 200 metres. Ickx at third place gained precious points for the world championship. Six Finished Only six of 20 drivers finished the Monza race. Hulme increased his points for the world championship from 15 to 24—only six behind Hill. The world championship is still between Hulme, Hill, Ickx and Stewart. Tl?ree events remain—the Grand Prix of Canada on September 22, the United States Grand Prix on October 6, and the Mexico Grand Prix on November 3. Results: D. Hulme (New Zealand. McLaren Ford), Ihr 40min U.Ssec for 68 laps, average speed 145.413 m.p.h., 1; J. Servoz-Gavin (France. Matra Ford), 1:41:43 2, 2: J. Ickx (Belgium. Ferrari), 1:41:43.4, 3; P. Courage (Britain, 8.R.M.), one lap behind. 4; J. P. Beltoise (France, Matra), two laps behind, 5; J. Bonnier (Sweden, McLaren 8.R.M.), four laps behind, 6. Championship table: —G. Hill (Lotus), 30 points, 1; Ickx (Ferrari), 27. 2; Stewart (Matra), 26, 3: Hulme (Matra), 24, 4; P. Rodriguez (8.R.M.) and Beltoise (Matra), 11 (equal), 5; Amon (Ferrari), 10. 7: B. McLaren (McLaren) and J. Slffert (Lotus Ford), 9 (equal) 8; Surtees (Honda). J. Rlndt (Brabham), 8 (equal) 10.