Chch drivers favoured
By
JOAN HAWKINS
Four of Christchurch’s top O.S.C.A. drivers will contest the sport-sedan events which will accompany the international Formula Pacific races at three North Island circuits in late December and early January. Trevor Crowe (Starlet V 8), John Osborne (Mazda Chev.), Steve Vigurs (Commodore Chev.) and Rob Kennard (Cortina V 8) will be among the favourites to win the series.
The events will be open to cars complying with North Island sports-sedan and South Island O.S.C.A. regulations.
Although the North Island cars are less strictly regulated than their southern counterparts, the South Island contingent appears to have the edge in driver experience and ability. Crowe already has an impressive record on the North
Island circuits in both sport sedan and group A racing, while Osborne’s car has been fitted with a new engine which may see its potential fully realised. Osborne estimates that the new-engine, which has alloy heads, will be about 20kg lighter that his previous nine-year-old motor. With most of the weight coming off the top of the engine, the car’s turn-in capabilities should be considerably improved. The axles, which have been the car’s achilles heel, have also been replaced by heavier units.
Vigurs’s crew, meanwhile, has spent time becoming more familiar with the former Avon Hyde Commodore, in preparation for the North Island foray. Vigurs made his debut in the car at Timaru in November.
He has enjoyed several good results in the past at
Bay Park in particular, and considers the North Island races good preparation for Wigram. There, he hopes to gain a place in the New Zealand team to race against Australia.
Kennard is the only driver of the four without previous racing experience on the North Island circuits.
His only previous appearance was at Manfeild last season. This resulted in a disastrous fire in practice which all but destroyed the car and resulted in serious burns to the driver. This season Kennard has returned with an immaculate new car. He is confident he has the ability to adapt quickly to new circuits.
The series will begin at Bay Park, Tauranga on Decenber 28, continue at Pukekohe on January 4 and conclude at Manfeild on January 11.
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Bibliographic details
Press, 18 December 1986, Page 28
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367Chch drivers favoured Press, 18 December 1986, Page 28
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