Worry for G.P. drivers

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33106, 22 December 1972, Page 20

Worry for G.P. drivers

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. Changes to Pukekohe racing circuit for the New Zealand grand prix next month will mean more exciting racing for spectators and a likely new list of records. However, drivers are worried about their safety, especially, in the bigger, faster machines through the two new tight chicanes. They will be approaching one of them, where there used to be a high-speed curve in the back straight, at speeds of 150 m.p.h. The drivers will have to brake to about 40 m.p.h., before cutting between sand-filled drums only 40ft apart in a tight S bend. When the saloon car champion, P. Fahey, approached the bend in a private practice for the first time in his big PDL Mustang, he could not get through it on full lock. Fahey said that marker drums were probably in the wrong place, and later he used the chicane successfully. After the Formula Fords of D. Scholium and D. McMillan had had private practice on the revised track last week, the new hot-mix seal surface was already showing signs of breaking up. The grand prix manager (Mr ,E. Mallard) said later the contractors who carried out the $20,000 job were being asked to repair it