The importance of victory

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 32

The importance of victory

The Lady Wigram Trophy race meeting has long been a Christchurch tradition. Although in recent years changing trends in international motor racing have meant that most of the drivers competing in the trophy race are no longer household names, the present day participants are no less hungry for success than their illustrious predecessors. Whereas many of the international drivers who frequented the New Zealand circuits in the hey-day of the Tasman Formula treated the series as something of a sojourn in the sun, Sunday’s competitors will be eager to capitilise on the present paucity of international events in the northern hemisphere, when there is space to spare in the columns of the specialist motoring publications. During this part of the year, the off-season in both Europe and the United States, it is likely that team managers and perhaps more importantly in this commercial age, prospective spon-

sors, may cast their eyes on the results of our international series. A victory in Sunday’s trophy race could mean the beginning of a favourable impression. International motor-sport is being purposely structured more toward a ladder system whereby, ideally, a driver with world championship Formula One aspirations can — finance and driving ability permitting — climb each rung to success. Kart racing and Formula Ford have provided an excellent nursery for today’s top drivers, where a young driver can learn the carcontrol skills assocaited with open-wheel motor sport. The competitors in the Formula ford races at Sunday’s Wigram meeting are an example of this. From here, a driver wishing to make a motor sport career, must progress, ideally via Formula 3 where competitors sometimes get the chance to compete on the same bill as the predominant Formula One cars, thereby getting a chance to attract the attention of the ever watchful Formula One team managers. An alternative to Formula 3 — and this could perhaps be considered a i parallel rung on the ladder is Formula Pacific in New Zealand and Australia, or Formula Super Vee in the United States. A disadvantage to a driver seeking this alternative is New Zealand’s re■moteness from Europe, 'which could be considered the hub of the motor sport i universe. I A New Zealand hopeful < would attract more positive

by gaining a string ;of impressive results in the ■ British Formula 3 series, as Paul Radisich hopes to do in 1986. From Formula 3, an exceptional driver can then aim for a season of For.mula 3000, which replaces the old Formula 2, and is in fact a Formula 2 in all but name. These cars are the next >and penultimate step on the ladder to Formula One, and they provide an opportunity for drivers to get used to handling considerably more power than is available in Formula 3 or Formula Pacific cars. Having proven himself in Formula 3000, our theoretical driver — marketability permitting — will be ready to move into the big league of Formula One racing. It will be noted that no mention has been made here of saloon car classes. New Zealand’s long preoccupation with saloon cars can, in many ways, be counted responsible for the dearth of New Zealand talent now felt on the international scene. Although there seems scant chance of Formula One drivers ever returning to Wigram when a racing and testing programme fully occupies the calendar year, patrons of past Wigram meetings can claim to have witnessed such as Keke Rosberg take the formative steps of their motor racing careers at the airfield circuit.

Will we be viewing another future world cham'pion among the contestants at Wigram on Sunday?