Prizes For Austin Drivers

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30962, 19 January 1966, Page 14

Prizes For Austin Drivers

A programme of cashprize support for successful Austin drivers has been announced by the Austin Distributors Federation, Petone. It is the first time that a major car-manufacturing firm in this country has decided to give comprehensive, tangible assistance to drivers who achieve distinction in motor sport, and the move follows the tradition of the British Motor Corporation which operates a larger scheme of cash-prize awards on an international basis. The Austin programme started with the first major event on the 1965-66 motor sport calendar—the Wills Six-hour race for standardspecification saloons at Pukekohe on October 9. The programme comprises a points-prize system covering the 20 major races of the season, with an end-of-season award of £lOO for the top-placed Austin saloon or

sports car driver, and £5O and £25 for those placed second and third: and a £25 cash prize for each classwinning Austin saloon car driver in the four international fixtures during January. The points-culmination system is administered for the federation by the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs, governing body of motor sport in this country.

The cash-prize system for class winners in the international events at Pukekohe, Levin, Wigram and Teretonga during January is handled by the federation, which will present the awards on receipt of applications certified by officials of the meetings. At each of the major race meetings which qualify for the class-winner’s prize system, a total of £75 is available to successful Austin drivers. The classes to which the award applies follows the generally-adop-ted formula of classification and provides a £25 prize for each Austin driver winning in the up-to-1000 c.c.. 1001-1300 c.c. and 1601-3000 c.c. classes.

To be eligible for awards, Austin cars must be raced in standard production form, or modified only to the extent permitted by ths supplementary regulation* for a specific meeting.