TASMAN CUP TO McRAE

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32543, 1 March 1971, Page 24

TASMAN CUP TO McRAE

.X.Z. Press Association—Copyright

BRISBANE. The Australian driver, F. Matich won the seventh, and deciding, round of the Tasman Cup motor-racing series at Surfers Paradise under dramatic circumstances yesterday.

But the New Zealander, G. Mcßae, who

finished third, won the trophy with a points total of 35.

Matich was second in the series, and another Australian, N. Allen, who withdrew from yesterday’s race after his motor blew up, finished third. All three drove McLaren Ml 0B cars.

The race was an anticlimax after the confusion which held up the start for 30 minutes. REFUSED TO DRIVE First, Matich refused tp start from the right-hand side of the track in pole position, claiming it was unsafe. He walked from the grid, but after a conference with officials, was allowed to start in the middle of the track from

i the second pole position. Earlier, F. Gardner, the second place-getter yesterday, was ordered to change i the fins on the front of his Lola car after a scrutineers’ check.

He refused at first, but later substituted another set and, after a practice lap, started from the pole position in the grid. WON BY 73 SECONDS

When the race finally started, Matich always had the measure of Gardner, and after getting away first, beat him home by 7.ssec.

McCrae, who realised that with Allen out of the race on the twelfth lap that he had only to finish in the placings to win the cup, coasted over the 100-miles for a comfortable third.

The full placings were: Matich 1, Gardner 2, McCrae 3, G. Lawrence (New Zealand) 4, R. Muir (Australia) 5, M. Guthrie (Britain) 6, J. Cannon (United States) 7, M. Stewart (Australia) 8, C. Green (Australia) 9, F. Radisich (New Zealand) 10.

Final points: Mcßae 35, Matich 31, N. Allen (Australia) 27, Gardner 18, C. Amon (New Zealand) 15, T. Pilette (Belgium) 13, Lawrence 9, K. Bartlett (Australia) 7, Cannon 5, Muir 3.