P.M. tries out race circuit

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 6

P.M. tries out race circuit

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, had an eventful practice day at Manfeild on Thursday, spinning his Ford Laser TX3 several times, but generally coming to grips with the circuit. In one incident Mr Lange spun his car leaving the hairpin, ending in a ditch, facing in the wrong direction. After about 30 seconds of wheel spinning and a push from another driver, Mr Lange was able to continue. Earlier he had the Laser off on to grass at the start of the front straight, and also had problems finding the right line through the tricky Higgins Corner at the front of the back straight. "It’s clearly a more difficult course (than Pukekohe) and it’s more interesting,” he said. “You don’t get the

speed that you do at Pukekohe because the straights are not so long. However, the demands of driving on this circuit are considerably greater. “They have some very difficult comers — the one before the grandstand straight is about three comers in one with the prospect of hitting a sand dune if you go off.” The Ford Laser TX3 lap record at Manfeild is 1 min 31.55. Mr Lange consistently set 1 min 36s laps on Thursday with a best lap of Imin 34.75. At Pukekohe he surprised many pundits by having a best lap time just four seconds over the Laser record. His two races at Manfeild will be six-lap national championship events. He is not able to attend official practice today and will start off the back of the grid as at Pukekohe.