Racing Drivers Disappointed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31982, 8 May 1969, Page 17

Racing Drivers Disappointed

(By Our Motoring Correspondent) New Zealand and Australian motor . sport bodies have agreed to a new formula for the 1970 international Tasman championship motor-rac-ing series in the two countries, and their decision has been greeted with a mixture of bitter disappointment and applause. The bodies—the Motorsport

Association of New Zealand and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport—will now ask the international controlling body to approve the change. The proposed new formula is not what most New Zealand motor-racing enthusiasts had expected. It had been thought that the old 2.5-litre formula ■would be replaced by a for- ' inula permitting Formula A • ears—single-seaters powered ; i>y production-based 5-litre V 8 engines—and 3-litre Formula I Grand Prix machines.

Formula A has already been adopted as New Zealand’s national formula. When drivers and organisers were asked fqr their opinions on a new formula during the last year, they were unanimous that the 2.5- formula was outdated and should go. But the two motor-sport bodies have agreed on a formula for Formula A cars and racing engines of up to 2.5This means that the 3-litre Formula I cars will not be eligible to compete, yet oh overseas circuits Formula A cars have been setting lap times within fractions of a second of Formula I times.

The decision would be a bitter disappointment to New Zealand motor-racing promoters, although they would welcome the introduction of Formula A, the president of the Motor Racing Club (Mr J. Brewer) said last evening. The club organises the Lady Wigram Trophy Race.

Last year only Ford was willing to build 2.5-litre motors for the Tasman series, Mr Brewer said. Ferrari

used sports-car engines, and other overseas racing teams

showed no interest in the 2.5litre formula.

“This decision slams the door in the faces of teams like Matra, Honda, and Ferrari,” Mr Brewer said. “This change of formula was a golden opportunity. I cannot understand their thinking.” Overseas teams this year welcomed the prospect of being able to send 3-litre Grand Prix cars to New Zealand and Australia. But they will, not be interested in building special engines for 2.5-litre cars, so any overseas drivers will have to race Formula A cars.

In other countries graded drivers who have scored world Championship points are not permitted to compete in Formula A car races. The New Zealand and Australian bodies have agreed that as the suggested formula would permit existing 2.5-litre engines to be used, a full year’s notice of the formula change was not needed. The bodies forecast, however, that the 2.5-litre engines might be phased out of the formula gradually, and that the racing engine, part of the formula would be kept "constantly under review.”

The decision means that the New Zealand public will not see modern single-seater racing cars—apart from Formula A machines—competing in this country. It is known that New Zealand organisers and administrators favoured Formula A plus the 3-litre Grand Prix cars. But the Australian body apparently held other views, and succeeded in getting its way. As far as the 5-litre engines are concerned, the suggested regulations provide that as in Formula A, they must be based on production-car engine blocks and cylinder heads, unsupercharged, and with pushrod operated valvegear.

For an engine to be eligible, 5000 must have been produced in 12 months if the engine was made overseas, or 500'must have been made in 12 months if the engine is. sold in Australia or New Zealand.

Australian-made Holden and Falcon engines would come into this litter category, but any American or British units would have had to be produced at the higher rate.