EXCELLENT RACING FORECAST

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30962, 19 January 1966, Page 13

EXCELLENT RACING FORECAST

THE Lady Wigram Trophy Race meeting on Saturday promises to be one of best yet. The main race itself, which will be run in two heats and a final, is almost certain to develop into a close tussle between the world champion Jim Clark (Lotus Climax 2.5 litre) and the most promising new driver to come on the European scene for a long time, Jackie Stewart (B.R.M. 2-litre). These two may not have it all their own way. They can expect strong competition from Richard Attwood (B.R.M. 2-litre), Frank Gardner (Repco Brabham Climax 2.5 litre) and Spencer Martin (Repco Brabham Climax

2.5-litre), while the two leading New Zealanders, Jim Palmer (Lotus Climax 2.5 litre) and Denis Marwood (Cooper Climax 2.5 litre) will not be far behind. This year B.R.M. have made a determined effort to win the Tasman series, and have fielded a full works team of two cars. Altogether the team has sent to New Zealand three cars (one is a spare), five engines, and three works mechanics. The B.R.M.’s scored a convincing victory at Pukekohe at the start of the series . .. but then Jim Clark was out of the race. B.R.M. won again at levin. But Wigram will hold special interest. It will be

the fastest circuit on which these latest Tasman formula cars have yet raced. It is almost certain lap records will tumble, and the spectators can expect to see some really fierce high-speed tussles. How will the B.R.M.’s go alongside their chief rival, Jim Clark, in the Lotus? The B.R.M.’s have 2-litre engines which still manage to produce more power than Clark’s 2.5-litre Coventry Climax.

But the B.R.M. engines produce their power over a comparatively narrow rev. band, and need their sixspeed gearboxes to get the best results. On Wigram’s fast straights their power may tell over Clark’s Lotus, but the tight loop may make all the difference. It is there that the excellent torque of the four-cylinder Coventry Climax will tell, and this, plus Clark's undoub-

ted driving ability, could make the difference. The B.R.M. engines are really bored-out versions of the 1.5-litre formula one VB, and they produce about 260 b.h.p. at 8000 r.p.m. Effective power is, delivered between 7000 and 10,000 r.p.m. Clark's Coventry Climax is a four-cylinder 2500 c.c. unit of proven reliability, and it produces about 242 b.h.p. at 6500 r.p.m. The power is delivered over a wide range.

Spencer Martin's Brabham is the car with which Graham Hill won at Pukekohe last year. The first heat for the main race will comprise Clark, Attwood, Martin, A. A. Buchanan (Masterton) with a 2.5-litre Brabham, G. Lawrence (Wanganui), 1.5-litre Brabham, J. Riley (Papatoetoe) with a 2.5litre Lotus, W. R. Caldwell (Awahuri), 1.5-litre Brabham, P. C. Gillum Christchurch), 1.5-litre Cooper Ford, and I. W. Dawson (Manurewa), 2.5-litre Brabham. Clark seems best pick for the winner of this heat, with either Attwood or Martin second. Riley is likely to beat Buchanan, who is less experienced with 2.5-litre cars, and Lawrence is the pick for the first 1.5-litre home.

The second heat will comprise Stewart, Gardner, Marwood, D. Hollier (Taihape), 1.5- Lotus, K. Sager (Auckland), Repco Brabham 1.5- R. A. Levis (Putaruru), 1.5-litre Brabham, Jim Palmer, A. Rhodes (Christchurch), 1.5-litre Brabham, and N. Whittaker in a 2.5litre Brabham.

Stewart seems likely to win, but Gardner, Palmer and Marwood will keep the pressure on. Levis is almost certain to be the first 1.5litre home, probably with Sager not far behind.

But when they line up on the grid for the main race, the outcome could be anyone’s guess. Clark is the favourite, but Stewart will be trying hard. And so will Attwood, Gardner, Martin, Palmer and Marwood . . . PRODUCTION SALOONS The production saloon race has a good entry of first-class drivers and cars. All cars are under 1600 c.c. The favourite at this stage /is R. Rutherford (Christchurch) with the beauti-fully-prepared Lotus-Cortina, but the two experienced and forceful Mini Cooper S experts, Jim Mullins (Christchurch) and R. B. Langley (Napier), will not be far behind. The entry list is:— R. Rutherford (Christchurch). Lotus Cortina, 1594 c.c.; I. L. Bradley (Auckland), Lotus Cortina, 1594; C. P. Jepson (Palmerston North), Lotus Cortina, 1594; C. R. Bidwill (Auckland), Austin Cooper S, 1293; T. P. Hickey (Christchurch), Fiat, 1481; R. Douglas (Morrinsville), Morris Cooper S, 1293; D. S. Hayward (Christchurch), Ford Cortina. 1498; M. J. McAllister (Balclutha), Austin Cooper. 997; B. E. Innes (Morrinsville), Morris Cooper S, 1293; D. Bruton (Invercargill), Austin Cooper S, 1275; R. Grace (Sanson), Mini Cooper, 1275; R. B. Langley (Napier), Austin Cooper, 1293; J. Mullins (Christchurch), Morris Cooper S, 1293; B. J. Brown (Oarnaru), Morris Cooper S, 1293; C. W. Bunce (Invercargill), Fiat, 1481; J. Sheppard (Auckland), Morris Cooper S, 970; R. D. Monk (Christchurch), Austin Cooper S, 1275; Miss J. Driscoll (Christchurch), Morris Mini, 867; M. R. Maclean (Invercargill), Ford Cortina, 1498; F. V. Turner (Christchurch), Austin Mini, 998: B. Brown (Christchurch), Austin Mini, 1200; T. Scott (Morrinsville), Morris Cooper S, 1293.

Almost certain winner of the Motor Racing Club championship, the sports car race at Wigram on Saturday, will be Spencer Martin in the Seuderia Veloce 250 LM Ferrari.

The Ferrari is the same as the cars which won at Le Mans last year, and has had considerable success in Australian races. At Pukekohe it had no difficulty in winning the sports car event in the rain.

The car has a V 12 engine, of 3285 c.c. capacity and mounted at the rear. It develops about 320 b.h.p. at 7500 r.p.m. and is fitted with six twin-choke Webers. The five-speed gearbox has variable drop gears to give top speeds varying from 120 m.p.h. to 185 m.p.h. The car has an alloy body built by Pininfarina, and weighs 16J cwt. J. Boyd of Papatoetoe in the Lycoming is the pick for second, but he may be very hard pressed by the impressive new (to road racing), driver G. Mardon, who will pilot the very fast Stanton Corvette, a wonder- j fully spectacular car, and B Porter of St. Andrews in the Lotus Climax 15. The New Zealand-built 1.5 litre Heron will be raced by P. L. Ackeroyd of Rotorua, and the onlywoman driver, Mrs I. Stephenson, will this year drive a Lola Climax.

Entries are:D. Hollier (Taihape), Lotus, 1498 c.c.; P. L. Ackroyd (Rotorua), Heron, 1498; L. Bryant (Akaroa), Cooper Vincent, 998; T. Shaw (Christchurch), Lotus, 1500; B. A. Conroy (Timaru), Morgan, 1991; G. J. McKerrow (Dunedin), ElMn Special, 1497; R. J. Oakley (Wellington), U2, 1498; D O. Evans (Motueka), Lotus Special, 1650; J. Boyd (Papatoetoe), Lycoming, 5520; G. W. Alexander (Christchurch), M.G. T.F. 1500, 1496; W. Darrell (Christchurch), A.C.E. IM, 2682; J. H. Honey (Christchurch), Buckler Mk. 90, 1172; K. Richardson (Rotorua), Heron M.R. 11, 2500; D. O, Silcock (Christchurch), Jaguar, 3781; Miss I. Stephenson (Auckland), Lola Climax, 1220; M. P. Stephens (Nelson), Zephyr Special, 2500; E. .1. Norris (Christchurch), U2, 1650; G. Mardon (Christchurch), Stanton Corvette, 5360; P. S. Leversedge (Christchurch), Ford Special, 4000: G. Smith (Christchurch), Healey Corvette, 4635; N. F. Stuart (Christchurch), Stuart Special, 4672; R. B. McNair (Rotorua), Mistral, 1498; R. J. Stewart (Christchurch), Robat Mantis, 1650; A. Rhodes (Christchurch), Lotus, 1498: J. K. Laney (Christchurch). Austin Healey, 2800; B. E. Porter (Timaru), Lotus Climax, 1960; A. Smith (Invercargill). Austin A5O Special, 1498; B. Hawes (Timaru). Tojeiro Jaguar, 3442; P. Stewart (Hawarden), M.G. Midget, 1098: D. Bruton (Invercargill), Begg 1600 Special, 1600. Allcomers Saloons The allcomers saloon event will be in two heats and a final. The first will include the Mini S’s of Mullins and Langley, and former champion Kerry Grant in the Mini S-engined A 40.

The second heat will include Martin in the 250 LM Ferrari, several fast Anglias including that of national champion P. Fahey, the Anglia Corvette, A. F, Moffatt’s promising Cortina Climax 2-litre, R. Coppins in the Chevrolet Corvette, and the thundering Zephyr Corvette, R. Silvester in the Chevrolet Corvette, and three Lotus Cortinas. The racing should be fast, close and very exciting.

Entries are> First Heat. G. J. Baker (Christchurch). Ford Anglia, 1498 C.C.; K. S. Grant (Wellington). Austin Farina A4O, 1393; J. W. Armstrong (Dunedin), Ford Anglia, 1498; F. Hamlin (Lower Hutt), Morris Cooper, 1293; W. Coilins tchristchurcii), Morris turd, less; c. K. Bidwill (Auckland), Austin Cooper s, 1293; T. P. Hickey iCnristciiurcli), Fiat, leol. R. Douglas (Mornnsville,, Morris cooper S, 1293; D. S. Hayward (Curistcliurcn), lord Cortina, 1498; M. J. McAllister (Balclutha), Austin Cooper, 997; B. E. Innes (Morrinsville). Morris Cooper S, 1293; D. Bruton (Invercargill), Austin Cooper S, 1275; R. Grace (Sanson), Mini Cooper S, 1275; R. B. Langley (Napier), Austin Cooper 1293; J. Mullins (Christchurch), Morris Cooper S. 1293; B. Brown (Uamaru), Morris Cooper S, 1293; M. R. Maclean (Invercargill), Ford Cortina. 1495; T.

Scott (Morrinsvllle), Morris Cooper S. 1293; F. V. Turner (Christchurch), Austin Mini, 999. « Second Heat.—J. P. Kennedy (Greymouth), Ford Anglia GT. 1649 c.c.; E. R. Henshaw (Christchurch), Volkswagen, 1592; C. H. Berryman (Christchurch), Austin A3O, 1996. D. A. Simpson (Auckland). Ford Anglia, 1542; A. F. Mudau (Ashburton), Cortina Climax. 1963: A. J. Murray (Christchurch). Ford Sabre GT. 2903; J. Miller iMotueka), Cortina, 4600; to be nominated. Anglia Corvette, 4900; R. Coppins (Manurewa), Zephyr Corvette. 5400. R. A. Silvester (Christchurch). Chav. Corvette, sooo; L. W. Neilson (Dunedin), Ford Zephyr, 5000: R. G. Macdonald (Cheviot), Lotus Cortina, 1700; 1. L. Bradley (Auckland), Lotus Cortina. 1594: C. P. Jepson (Palmerston North), Lotus Cortina, 1594; S. Marlin (Australia), Ferrari, 3295; P. Fahey (Manurewa), Lotus Anglia. 1750.