Jones, Thackwell ones to beat at Manfeild

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 22

Jones, Thackwell ones to beat at Manfeild

PA Palmerston North The New Zealand Grand Prix winner, Davy Jones, and the expatriate New Zealander, Mike Thackwell, will again be the drivers to beat in tomorrow’s two 27-lap Formula Pacific races at Man- . feild. More than a dozen cars will line up for the third round of the Mita Copierssponsored international series which ends next week at Wigram. Jones, the 22-year-old American, is no stranger to the Feilding circuit In 1984, at 19, he became the youngest man to win the New Zealand Grand Prix, and a week later he won two races at Manfeild. Later that year, he made it four out of four at Manfeild when he returned for the international series. Judging by his form at Pukekohe last Sunday, Jones must be favoured to perform well at Manfeild. Even though he was a convincing winner, the affable New-Yorker later said he was suffering from jet lag

and was not entirely happy with his car. The driver likely to press Jones hardest is Thackwell, who beat the American in the Grand Prix preliminary and won both Formula Pacific heats at Baypark where Jones did not compete. Thackwell, aged 25, is probably the most experienced driver in the field. He has the distinction of being the youngest driver to contest a Formula One grand prix when in 1980, aged only 19 .years and 182 days, he drove a Tyrell in Canada. Thackwell prefers to earn his living as a freelance driver, competing in a variety of events such as Formula 3000, Formula Two, Group C sportscars, Group A saloon cars and Formula Pacific. He leads the series with 33 points, ahead of Jones on 15 points. New Zealand’s Paul Radisich (14) is third in the championship ahead of a fellow Kiwi, Ken Smith, and American Dave Kudrave (both 10). . The battle for the title of top resident New Zealander

will be fought between Smith and Radisich. Smith boasts more than two decades of experience in single-seater race cars and is seldom out of the placings. He has a new Ralt RT4 and athough he couldn’t match Jones and Thackwell at Pukekohe, he will be striving to reverse the results at Manfeild. Radisich has had a mixed time in Formula Pacific racing but while the results haven’t always been consistent, there is little doubt he is capable of driving very quickly. An American, Dave Kudrave, finished fifth in both races at Pukekohe and will, look to improve on this at Manfeild.. While the Formula Pacifies (nay be the glamour machines, much spectator interest will be in the 15-lap Formula Ford race. The Motorcraft-sponsored championship is led by Palmerston North’s Richard Lester, who has a 12-point lead over another local, Shane Higgins. With Auckland’s Grant Campbell only

five points back, the scene is set for an excellent race. Lester and Higgins have been in fine form ail season and had a win each at Pukekohe. Campbell, who in recent seasons has dabbled with Formula Pacifies, has been improving at every meeting with a win at Baypark and two seconds at Pukekohe. Two other local drivers, Ross Symon and Debbie Lester, are neck and neck in the battle for the Dunlop Le Mans Formula Vee championship. Lester, who finished runner-up in last year’s series, got off to a great Start in the championship and has built a handy lead over the defending champion, Symon. But the Palmerston North businessman fought back strongly at the Baypark and Pukekohe meetings and now has a six-point lead. The Mini 7 championship is' developing into a battle between the Pukekohe brothers, Chris and Warren Heron. Chris has 212 points after five Of the 10 rounds, 27 clear of Warren.