Wigram race on a Sunday

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33251, 14 June 1973, Page 30

Wigram race on a Sunday

Christchurch will be the venue for the NewZealand Grand Prix for the first time in January. Also for the first time, the race at Wigram will be held on a Sunday. This was announced yesterjday by Mr J. Brewer, the .president of the Wigram 1 Trophy Race organiser, the Motor Racing Club. Both the Ministry of Defence and the Paparua County Council had given permission for race practice

to be held on the Saturday, and the Grand Prix to be held on the Sunday, January 20, he said. EARLY PRACTICE Practice on the Saturday would probably begin as early at 8 a.m., he said but the j racing on Sunday would not |start before noon. j However, it was not expected that this would mean a shorter programme than usual, Mr Brewer said. The programme would not be interrupted by a lunch break, it was hoped to have less delay between races, and the programme might also run a little later than usual.

/, The Motor Racing Club’s e members would begin cleany ing up as soon as racing finished, as was the usual custom. Mr Brewer said. The y club officially had Monday on y which to transform the racing e circuit back into an airfield. ,♦ It was hoped this would be completed at least by noon on Monday, and probably conn siderably earlier. n The club was delighted to e be running the Grand Prix - —given to Christchurch be- :, cause of the Commonwealth s Games—and was grateful to e the Ministry and the county a council for making it possible, Mr Brewer said.

Drivers for the Wigram race are not likely to begin signing up until October, at the earliest, although overseas magazines have predicted that such expatriate New Zealanders as C. Amon and G. Mcßae will be among them. CAR RALLY It is also likely that several racing drivers will compete in the Shell ’74 car rally which will end in Christchurch on the Thursday before the race. The rally will be an officially associated activity of the Commonwealth Games, which will open in Christchurch on January 24.