BRITON WINS CAR RALLY

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 21

BRITON WINS CAR RALLY

Leader Crashes 100 Miles From Finish (N.Z.P.A Reuter—Copyright 1 SYDNEY. The British driver, A. Cowan, in a Hillman Hunter, was second to cross the finishing line in the 10,600-mile London-to-Sydney car rally yesterday and was acclaimed the provisional winner on points. The Irishman, P. Hopkirk, in a B.M.C. 1800, finished several minutes ahead of Cowan, but was six points behind him.

Cowan and his triumphant teammates, B. Coyle and C. Malkin, sat on the roof of their dust-covered Hillman and drank champagne as they awaited official confirmation of their win.

Cowan had lost only 50 points in the marathon trek across three continents. The Australian driver. I. Vaughan, in his Ford Falcon G.T., crossed the line third and also finished third in the provisional official placings with 62 points (minutes) lost. ! The stirring finish to the [rally, which began in London [with 98 cars on November 24, | was marred yesterday when [the Belgian, L. Bianchi, I crashed as victory was in his | grasp. | With Bianchi asleep in the •front seat and his co-driver,

G. J. Agier in control, their Citroen DS2I collided headon with a private car less than 100 miles from the finish. A hospital spokesman at Nowra said last night that Bianchi had a broken ankle and facial lacerations. Agier had minor cuts and bruises. Both will be flown to Sydney this morning in a Navy helicopter on the first leg of their trip home. At the time of the accident, the Belgian had lost only 39 points and had an 11-point lead over Cowan. i Cowan, the most consistent [driver in the rally, had victory handed to him on a plat-

ter when first the German, G. Staepalaere, in a Ford 20M.R.5., and. then Bianchi were eliminated after accidents. Staepalaere rolled his car earlier in the day south of Hindmarsh station when he was in second place. In all, the lead in the rally changed hands four times in the rugged haul through Australia’s untamed outback. Engine Trouble The early leader, R. Clark, of Britain, yet another victim of the final gruelling trek across Australia, limped into Sydney in a battered Ford Lotus Cortina with a total points loss of 144, which will put him in tenth place. Clark, who led the rally [across Europe and Asia, and half of Australia, finished with almost a completely replaced engine. The 29-year-old Englishman struck steering, cylinder and differential trouble at three crucial stages of this final leg. The provisional placings of the leaders (results will become official today after a check of all control points) were: Hillman Hunter (A. Cowan Britain), 50 points, 1: B.M.C. 1800 <P. Hopkirk, Britain). 56, 2; Ford Falcon GT (I. Vaughan. Australia) 62 3; Porsche 911 S iS. Zasada, Poland). 63, 4: B.M.C. 1800 <R. Aaltonen. Britain). 68, 5; Ford Falcon GT (B. Hodges Australia), 70. 6: Ford 20 MRS (H. Kleint Germany). 91. 7; Ford Falcon GT (H. Firth. Australia), 114, S: Citroen DS 21 <R. Nevret France). 123. 9; Ford Lotus Cortina (R. Clark. Britain). 144, 10: Volvo 144 IS. Kitubman. Australia). 148, 11: Holden Monaro (B. Ferguson. Australia). 169, 12; Volvo 1448 (A. Welinsky Australia). 171, 13; Holden GTS (B. Whiteford, Australia). 173. 14: Porsche 911 <E. Herrmann. Germany). 195. 15; Ford .20 MRS (G. Staepalaere. Germany). 206, 16: DAF 55 (R. Sloteniaker, the Netherlands). 208. 17: Mercedes 280 S (F. Barker, Britain), 264. 18: B.M.C. 1800 (J. T. Kingsley. Britain). 266. 19: Moskvitch 408 <S. Tenlshev, Russia), 269, 20.