Series promises more improvement

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 13

Series promises more improvement

There is every indication that the Benson and Hedges international motor-race series, which brought new vigour to New Zealand circuits last summer, will continue to improve things this season.

The series, which will begin at Baypark on January 8 and take in meetings in Pukekohe, on January 15, Manfeild, on January 22, Wigram, on January 29, and Timaru, on February 5, has as its showpiece the Peter Jackson Formula Pacific series. Two heats for the

Pacific cars will be run at each meeting, making up a 10-round championship.

At the time of writing, eight overseas entries had been received by the organisers, Global Sports and Promotions, with at least one further entry confidently expected.

Of the known contenders the biggest team will again by fielded by Graeme Lawrence, who will run three Americanbuilt Swifts for last year’s Lady Wigram Trophy

RACING

winner, Dean Hall, of the United States, and his compatriots Mark Smith and Scott Gibson.

Confirming the emergence of Japanese drivers on the international scene, are Hiro Matsushita and Kenji Mamoto, both of whom will also drive Swifts.

The former driver, now turned team manager, Dave McMillan, is once again running a wealthy American, this time Stuart

Crow, while an expatriate New Zealander and former national Formula Ford champion, Mike Finch, will make the overdue move to Pacifies in a Ralt RT4, albeit an older version than Crow’s.

A staunch supporter of the series, Bob Creasy, from Perth, will return for the sheer enjoyment of motor racing; he is unlikely to be near the front-running pace.

At first glance all the aforementioned would appear to be cannon fodder for last year’s series winner, the accomplished New Zealand international, Paul Radisich. Radisich, however, is likely to be making the move from his elderly, but tried but tested Ralt RT4 to one of the new, and increasingly numerous Swifts. If, as his rivals will no doubt be hoping, Radisich takes time to adapt to his new mount, the established Swift runners, such as Hall and Matsushita, will not be found wanting.

Hall, who showed vastly improved form towards

the end of the last series, will return a much tougher competitor after a successful season in the United States with knowledge of the New Zealand circuits gleaned during his last campaign and a good working relationship with Lawrence’s team.

Matsushita finished third in the American west Formula Atlantic series, which was won by Hall, and has sponsorship from his family’s com-

pany, Panasonic. Mark Smith, aged 21, has a strong reputation in Super Vee racing, and should mature as a race driver during the series, as have many other young Americans in the past.

Of the New Zealand contingent, Ken Smith is also thought to be making late negotiations for a Swift, but if these plans fail to reach fruition he will drive a 1988 model Ralt RT4. To describe Smith as a veteran is the ultimate overworking of a cliche; in fact, his age is no longer a novelty. Suffice to say that Ken Smith is always a threat and will remain so during this year’s Peter Jackson series.

Other leading New Zealanders in the field will be Richard Lester, Steve Richards and the Formula Ford graduates, Craig Baird and lan MacDonald. Baird, the Formula Ford titleholder, is highly rated and McDonald, formerly of Christchurch, is progressing well in his move to the more powerful Pacific class.