Production race field

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32998, 18 August 1972, Page 20

Production race field

More than half the field for the Benson and Hedges 500 production salon race on September 3 has a chance of winning, according to the organisers, the New Zealand Grand Prix organisation. But on past performances the favourite must be the 4.3-litre Chrysler Charger of L. Leonard and E. Sprague, of Timaru.

There are seven cars entered in the 4101 c.c. and over class, and they are all Chryslers.

The Todd Motors team comprises the LeonardSprague car, and similar cars driven by R. CoppinsJ. Richards, and R. LangleyA. Hyslop. Other Chargers have been entered for A. Marshall-K. Yeats, and S. Taylor-A. Curry, while 5.2litre V 8 “old model” Valiants will be driven by G. McKerrow-L. Neilson and R. Young-R. Haines. There are only four cars in the 2001 c.c. to 4100 c.c. category, and they include a 4-litre Falcon for K. Smith-J. Power, a 4-litre Valiant for G. Bloore-R. Wade, a 3.3 Victor, and a Triumph 2.5 P.I. for R. Anderson-N. Crichton. It is in the 1201 c.c. to 2000 c.c. class that the bulk of the entries fall, with no less than 10 of them being the 1608 c.c. Fiat 125 T models built with the race in mind by Torino Motors. Datsun has also built a line of race-track specials—under the regulations local production of 200 cars qualifies a model for the race.

The production of these models has caused officials some concern: in Australia, the production of special cars for the Bathurst production event finally resulted in an outcry against fast cars by local politicians, and the result has been the end of production-car racing in Australia. Good order New orders worth over sl.3m have been received by Lotus from its United State distributors for the Elan and Europa sports cars.

It seems unlikely that even the 125 T Fiats will be able to hold the Chryslers on the fast Pukekohe circuit but their handling could make up for the lack of cubic inches to some extent. Further, in a race such as the Benson and Hedges, reliability and tactics play a vital part.

The three Torino team entries among the Fiats will be driven by P. FaheyG. Lawrence—a top combination, if ever there was one—R. Emson and D. Bremner, and P. HughesA. Lawrence. There are four 1993 c.c. Cortina G.T. cars, including one of the few South Island entries: o<ie by Hutchinson Motors, Ltd, for

R. Rutherford-E. Inwood. J Kennedy of Greymouth will drive another.

B. Phillips-B. McLean will share another Cortina, and A. Woolf-G. Pederson will have a Fiat 125 T. In the under 1200 c.c. class there are two "SSS” Datsun 1171 c.c. cars entered, both in the official team. Third man in the team is the Christchurch driver, R. McPhail. The SSS specials will be driven by W. Jones-G. Wilson, and D. Marwood-B. Innes.

Toyota Corollas will be driven by G. Brownlie-R. Sellens and R. CollingwoodR. Johnson, and C. Weir-B. Barry will race a Fiat 128. Datsun 1200 s make up all the rest of the class.