Murdoch G.P. hero

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33740, 13 January 1975, Page 3

Murdoch G.P. hero

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND.

Driving the race of his life, the brilliant young Australian, Warwick Brown, bolted away from the field to win the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe yesterday. Brown took the lead in his Lola T 332 from Graham Mcßae (New Zealand) halfw r ay around the first lap and continued to power away from the field in a superb - display of high speed driving. He was not challenged for the rest of the race.

His win gives him a twopoint lead in the Peter Stuyvesant Tasman championship over Graeme Lawrence (Hamilton), who was placed third yesterday. Lawrence won the first round at Levin a week before. BOXER Brown, aged 24, is a former boxer who is now Australia’s greatest hope for world championship honours since Jack Brabham. He has said he wants to drive in Formula One, and his form in the last year has suggested that he needs only experience and a fine honing of his skills to make the grade. After nearly losing his life in a bad accident in

1973 he finished sixth in the 1974 Tasman series, winning the last round at Adelaide, and went to the United States to compete in the American Formula 5000 championship.

He intends to return to America this year, where he should be a real threat to the established stars.

Apart from fine duelling for minor places, the weather ruined what promised to be one of the best races in the history of the grand prix.

The start was delayed for more than half an hour as drivers tested the track and many changed to wet weather tyres as dark clouds to the south threatened to drench the circuit.

The triple Tasman champion, Mcßae, led away from pole position, with Brown, Jim Murdoch (Begg 018) and Chris Amon (Talon) close behind. AMON STOPS But Mcßae was on dry weather “slick” tyres and dropped back through the field until he withdrew from the race after only five laps because he considered the conditions too dangerous. Light rain did in fact fall for the first half of the race, but the downfall passed the circuit to the west.

The other favourite, Amon, also dropped back, eventually stopping to change tyres as the circuit showed signs of drying out, and set the fastest lap as he raced to make up the lost time. Meanwhile the large crowd was delighted to see Murdoch, driving the New Zealand designed and built

Begg, grimly defending his second place from a determined challenge by Kevin Bartlett (Australia).

Five laps later, Murdoch cracked under the pressure and spun entering Castrol Corner, Bartlett having to take to the grass inside the track to avoid him.

Both drivers were away in a flash, with Murdoch now fourth and far behind. Johnnie Walker was having a lonely race in fifth place in his Lola T 332, ahead of Ken Smith’s La Valise Lola T 332 and John McCormack’s Elfin MR6.

But drama followed drama in the battle for second place. Bartlett’s magnificent drive came to an end on the forty-eighth lap with a punctured front tyre and gearbox troubles. CASTROL JINX For the tough Australian, it was a heart breaking end to a disappointing weekend, during which his car had been plagued with fuel pressure problems and a broken clutch. At his best on a wet circuit, everything looked to have

come right again for him until misfortune struck.

Ten laps from the end Lawrence called at the pits to take on more fuel. Apparently he had not taken enough after the test laps before the race, and in fact he ran out of fuel as he crossed the line for the second time in two races.

Murdoch recaptured second place while Lawrence was in the pits, but spun for the second time as he came out of Castrol Comer.

Anxious moments followed as his car refused to start, but finally the engine fired again and he roared back into the race, still in second place. Castrol Comer seemed to have a jinx on Murdoch, who by this time had become the hero of the crowd, as on the very last lap his car slowed almost to a stop for no apparent reason. Just before Lawrence caught him, his car picked uo again and he shot past the chequered flag to an enormous reception from the crowd. Murdoch has 7 points, Johnnie Walker 6, Bartlett and Ken Smith 4, and John McCormack 1.

A further round of the series will be run at Wigram next week-end. New Zealand Grand Prix (58 laps): W. Brown (Aust.), Lola T 332. 1; J. Murdoch (Auckland), Begg 018, 2; G. Lawrence (Hamilton), Lola T 332, 3; J. Walker (Aust), Lola T 332, 4; K. Smith (Auckland), Lola T 332, 5; J. McCormack (Aust.), Elfin MR6, 6; C. Amon (NX), Talon, 7; M. Stewart (Australia), Lola T4OO, 8; S. Millen (NX), Chevron 820, 9; R. Booth (NX), Begg FM4, 10. ■