Flockhart Will Be Specially written oU R. M. And Brabham Favourites CARR Motoring Correspondent of 'he Press."] With competition from only two overseas drivers, New Zealanders may have their first opportunity of winning an international lace in this country at Wigram on Saturday. The two visitors, Ron Flockhart (B.R.M.) and Jack Brabham (Cooper- Climax) are top favourites, but it would not be in the least surprising if a New Zealander headed the field home. It has been evident for some years now that given the cars, New Zealand drivers are quite capable of giving a good account of themselves against worldranked competltors from overseas. ¡This is borne cut by the brilliant achievement of the Auckland youngster, Bruce McLaren, who ¡last season rocketed to the head- , lines of the British press and finlished in second place for the world formula Il championship. Ross Jensen is another who has carned respect for New Zealand among , the world's motor racing public, and there must be several others who could make a similar impression if they had the opportunity. If the B.R.M. decides to have done with mechanical troubles for the day, then Ron. Flockhart will be the biggest threat to the New Zealanders. But its unreliability is more famous than the car, and 150 miles is a long race for a car which is prone to mishaps. The car's acceleration unparalleled among grand , Prix models today, and on the Wigram back straight its speed should be unmatched. 22- 1-59 'ROSS. JENSEN The B.R.M. has been one of the Most costly ventures motor racing has seen. At first, the car was a combined effort, with the British motor industry clubbing together to manufacture a 200 miles-anhour , car. But after. nearly; £1,000,000 had been spent the project was abandoned, * The British millionalre,* A.: G. B: Owen; bought the existing cars and _raced them in a modifled condition. They won a few races against smaller : cars; : but": werel finally scrapped. The il6 cylinder lay-out.gave them terrifs, speed, but they were most tomperamentaL. The car Frockhart wit" arlve! has a 'short-stroke four-cylinder engine, with two plugs' to each cylinder, «It had inherited nothing i trom the old car except unreliabll" ity, but pastr year's petformances! Engine Trouble „Jack Brabham Went 'ominously alase to catching Archle Scotte Brown: a wigram, lent yeas;, but engine trouble caused his trement. Brabham's car will not have the same advantage it had at Ardmorei but the reliabllity gof the Cooper is remarkably high. With Bruce McLaren, Brabham should be close to the front for the whole of this year's race. Ross Jensen is likely to be most consistent with the El Salvador Maserati, and is due for a major win. Certainly his car is one of the finest entered in the race. There has been much speculalion recently as to why the Piecolo Maseratis of Temple Buell will not be seen at Wigram. These cars made a bad showing at Ardmore, and were beseiged with mechanical troubles-a spark plug in one was blown out of the head, and the brakes were quite inadequate for the work demanded of them. They were shipped back to Italy for repair and modification, and according to the Motor Racing Club "no amount of money would have got the cars to Wigram." Schell and Shelby have excellent records in the sport and it is disappointing that their cars did not do them credit at Ardmore. Extra Incentive But while this year's feld lacks more overseas "competitors, the race should not be the worse for it. Money won by overseas men immediately goes out of the coun try as a result. With the money going to a New Zealander, extra inçentive is given, and hopes are raised. Drivers in New Zealand have sometimes expressed their feelings against overseas drivers being invited to the country, but have realised that for the sake of a good crowd and improvement in their own standard of driving, the present system is the best possible. Wigram, fortunately, is a circuit which has been remarkably free of major accidents. Racing first started there in 1949, and the first international event was held in 1954. Saturday's race will be a far cry from the homebuilt "bombs" and specials of 1949. BRUCE MCLAREN, second in the world Formula Al championship last year, who will be driving a Cooper Climax at Wigram. Emergency Led To Use Of Wigram Circuit Two Canterbury men have good at short notice. Mr Melver reason to be proud to be associ- thought of an old friend, Sir ated • with the race on Saturday, Howard Kippenberger, who was for the tenth time-since it was at, that time Dominion president largely due to their efforts that of the R.S.A., and the desired inthe Wigram circuit was obtained terview with the Commissioner in the first place. Mr C. Melver was soon obtained. will again be in charge of the admission arrangements, while Allernative Circuit MI P. M. Hoare is driving in the race again—with R. d. Roycroft, the only starter on Salur- The Commissioner was sympaday who took pait in the original thetic, but the law was the law, race on February 26, 1949. and he could do nothing. Mr The first race of its kind to be Hoare suggested an allernative held in the Dominion, the original circuit-Wigram aerodrome-and race was to have been held on an interview was arranged With the Minister of Defence (Mr F. a road circuit at Waimairi, near Christchurch Airport. Permis- Jones) and the Prime Minister sion had been obtained from the (the late Mr P. Frasci). Transport Department and the These gentlemen listened with Waimairi County Council to stage interest to the pleadings of the race, but a fortnight before Messrs Mciver and Hoare, and the day the Canterbury Car Club at the end of the meeting agreed was lold by the Police that an to the use of Wigram. objection had been laid, and the A short night's sleep, in lodgings race could not be beld on the arranged by the Commissioner of road circuit, Police, and the next morning In desperation, Messrs Mciver the , two men, mission accomand Hoare flew to Wellington. plished successfully, returned to They went to the Commissioner Christchurch--with about 11 days of Police, but could not see him to prepare for the race on the new circuit. Hard work ensured the track was ready in time, and all the arrangements were made-and more than 20,000 people saw the frst, highly successful race at Wigram. The circuit has been used each year since, except for 1955, when It was being rescaled