Perkin’s last chance

Press, 27 January 1979, Page 6

Perkin’s last chance

JOHN FRIDD

Tomorrow is F Day for Larry Perkins. It is his last chance to beat the Italian driving acb, Teo Fabi, in a fair fight in the 1979 New Zealand international Formula Pacific series. The amiable Australian played second fiddle to Fabi in the first three rounds of the five-round series, but then scored two wins last weekend at Teretonga after Fabi struck trouble. However, Perkins wants to see the chequered flag first tomorrow even if Fabi has a perfect run with his car, and he will have the minimum possible wing settings on his Wynns March 778 in order to gain the highest possible speed on the fast airfield circuit.

Perkins estimates that he will reach 250 km/h (155 m.p.h.) on the main straight but will be slower than usual round the corners, as the cars front and rear aerodynamic wings will not be exerting as much downforce as usual. Another driver anxious to improve tomorrow will be the expatriate New Zealander, Brett Riley, who still has a grand chance of winning the series if Fabi strikes trouble. Riley has had plenty of seconds and thirds during the series but would dearly love to win, and iast week-end was pressing Perkins.

The consistent Aucklander, i Dave McMillan, has spent a lot of time on his Citizen Nashua Rak during the week, ( lightening the car and fitting smaller body-panels in an effort to gain more speed i for the two Wigram races. Several of the drivers will be desperately seeking the form that they hoped for at . the start of the series. They!

include John Smith (Australia. Ralt), Jeff Wood (United States. March 78B), Eje Elgh (Sweden, Marlboro March 78B), Steve Millen (Auckland. Martini Hertz Chevron 842 i and Ross Stone (Auckland. Motogard Cuda). Coming to Wigram to stir them along is the veteran Aucklander, Ken Smith (Travelodge March 768),