P.D.L. will sponsor air race

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 2

P.D.L. will sponsor air race

P.D.L. Holdings, Ltd, has agreed to sponsor the Christchurch-Singapore air race.

The sponsorship deal announced yesterday effectively guarantees the viability of the race, which will now be officially known as the P.D.L. International Air Race. The chairman of the Christchurch-based company, Sir Robertson Stewart, would not reveal the extent of the sponsorship. Race organisers, however, said it would pay many of the running costs, as well as the costs of the Tiger Moth aircraft which is first prize in the handicap section of the race. This aircraft has already been bought and is

now being refurbished in the North Island.

The race is part of the jubilee celebrations of Christchurch Airport. Money raised will go to the Royal New Zealand Air Force museum at Wigram. The sponsorship deal meant that the museum would almost certainly get $200,000 and be debt-free when it opened, said airport director, Mr Hugh McCarroll.

Sir Robertson said he had been approached about sponsoring the race only four days ago. It was fitting that an expanding international company should assist the organisation of an international air race, he said.