20 for motor-racing series

Press, 8 December 1976, Page 48

20 for motor-racing series

By

JOHN FRIDD

Next January’s Lady Wigram motor-racing classic is shaping up as the best for some years, with a large field of overseas and New Zealand drivers already signed up for the Peter Stuyvesant series. This year's Lady Wigram race attracted only 11 starters, and there were seven finishers. But the 1977 series has already attracted 20 confirmed starters, and more are expected to turn up. Formula 5000 has been dropped by New Zealand promoters this year, and Formula Pacific introduced in a bold move to stimulate flagging interest in motor-sport, after a series of “processions” in the New Zealand F5OOO series last January. Instead of the rowdy 5000 cu. cm VB-powered cars seen on circuits this year, the cars for next season all contain highly-modified 1600 cu. cm engines, mainly Ford BDAs. The new breed of car. which is run successfully as Formula Atlantic in America and Europe, will be down on power compared with the F5OOO cars but improved handling might , produce comparable lap times on tighter circuits.

With larger fields, and much closer racing because of the similarity' in machines, the five-race Stuyvesant series should produce some exciting racing.

The January 30 race at Wigram is the last race in the 1977 series, which starts at Bay Park (January' 3), then the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe on January 8. Manfeild (January 16) and Teretonga (January 23). If the series is a close one, as it promises to be, the Wigram race could be a thrilling spectacle, as drivers battle for the over-all title. The Wigram circuit will remain the same this year, but the water-filled drums that kept drivers on the track last Januar , will be replaced by huge scraper tyres, set further back from the track to give drivers a better chance of correcting before crashing. Admission charges will remain the same. Leading the list of drivers entered for the $60,000 series ($12,000 for each meeting) are three New Zealandborn men, Kenny Smith, Dave McMillan and John Nicholson. Smith, the Wigram title-holder, is forsaking his F5OOO Lola for a brandnew March 768 and will be very quick, McMillan has his new Ralt well-sorted and knows the track, and Nicholson, now based in England, won the British Atlantic series twice and should be well up in the Modus he is bringing over for the series. Overseas drivers signed are Tom Gloy (Canada, Tui), Mik-

ko Kozarowitzky (Finland), Opert Chevron), Richard Melville (Jamaica, March 768), Philip Sharp (England, formerly New Zealand, Modus), Howard Wood (England, formerly N.Z., March 768), Bruce Allison (Australia, Ralt), Andrew Miedecke (Australia, Lola T 360, Enno Buesselman (Australia, Birrana), Wolfgang Preiawa (Australia, Birrana) and David Saunders (England, formerly* Ashburton, March 758). The other New Zealanders entered are Graham Baker (Christchurch, Birrana), David Oxton (Auckland, Chevron), Ross Stone (Stone-

McLaren), Peter Hughes (Brabham Fiat), Rex Hart (Surtees), and Steve Millen (Auckland, Chevron 76).

Most of the overseas drivers are unknown in New Zealand at present, but are recognised as being among the leading drivers in their class in the world. Another feature of the Wigram meeting will be two rounds of the Shellsport “big bangers” saloon car series. It will probably mark the first appearance in Christchurch of the new P.D.L. Mustang, driven by Leo Leonard. The best of the saloons will take part in an Austra-lian-New Zealand challenge race. The New Zealand team will probably comprise Leonard, Jack Nazer (McLaren Victor) and Don Halliday (Capri), while the expatriot Kiwi, Jim Richards, will lead the Australians in his ageing Mustang, along with Tony Edmondson (Charger) and one other member, yet to be determined. Backing up the feature races will be an O.S.C.A. race, two production saloon car races and two motorcycle races. A total of $20,450 in prize money will be offered at the meeting, which should attract more spectators than the one last January.