28-12-59 8-1-60 26-12-59 BRABHAM TO DRIVE LTHOUGH the Christ- A church Motor Racing Club has not yet had an entry from world champion Jack Brabham for the 150-mile Lady Wigram Trophy on January 23, it is now highly likely that the 33year-old Australian will start with his works 2}-litre Cooper-Climax. When the No. 2 works driver, Bruce MeLaren, communicated with the club about his own entry last week he said Brabham would start. Earlier it had been announced that Brabham would contest only the New Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore on January 9. But he has evidently changed his mind. Has Never Won Here Although Brabham has been placed at Wigram, he has never Last year he was won the race by B.R.M.'s Ron beaten Flockhart in one of the most thrilling races seen here. Immediately after Wig ram Brabham and Mclaren will go to South America for the first race in the 1960 championship series - the Grand Prix of the Argentine. Although Brabham will cer- tainly be favourite in the trophy race, he may not have things all his own way. South Islands circuits have not been kind to him in the past. This year's opposition here could prove strong. Australian Champion The English drivers will be Ian Burgess with the Scuderia Centro Sud Cooper-Maserati. This 28-year-old driver has a good record. Then there will be David Piper with a Formula I Lotus. Piper is the Lotus test driver. •From Instralia will come the national champion, Len Lnkey with a Cooper-Climax, and Ted Gray with his Tornado - an exceptionally fast Corrette-engined special. Piper : is bringing a second Lotus—a 2.2 litre model. The local man, Frank Cantwell, has been offered the drive both in the New Zealand Grand Prix and at Wigram. Cantwell has not made up his mind yet. The Mystery Man Mystery man at the moment is the former New Zealand champion, the Aucklander Ross Jensen. He has turned down the drive in the Lotus because, it 1s said, he will field a much faster car for the series. Jack Brabhami No official information has been released, but this car is reported to be fitted with a 41-litre Maserati motor and to have disc brakes. The chassis will most likely be a modified 250₽ Maserati frame. Jensen has not yet entered for Wigram, but is certain to. He could prove one of the hardest to beat. 8-1-60 Wigram Motor Races ITHEN the prospectus for the Lady Wigram International Trophy race in January was issued by the Motor Racing Club recently, several drivers noted with disapproval that in all subsidiary events, team will consist of a driver and one assistant. This relates to the saloon and sports car races and als to the new Motor Racing Club championship race to be held in three classes. Several local drivers are of the opinion that the clause is unfair, because it means that one man will have to give pit signals, lap score, and take lap times, all at the same time. The intention of the promoters that the saloon car race be con- fined to conventional bodies saloon cars capable of seating of at least four adults has met with wide approval. in the past, sports cars with their hoods up have qualified for this race and tave usually dominated the event. The 42-mile Motor Racing Club championship 10 be instituted this year will be for open cars not entered or qualifying for the trophy race. To cater for three classes, it will carry a total of =150 in prizes. The sports car race will also be over • 42 miles with a Le Mans start, and will also carry £150 prize money. Prizes in the saloon car race will total £90, and the Lady Wigram international event will carry £650 in prizes. HERE Frank Shuter, a forceful local ariver his drive a 250E Maser. has been raced successfully in Australia by Stan Jones. It has done a lot of racing, but has been kept in tiptop condition, being sent back to the Maserati factory each season for reconditioning. Could Cause Upset Shuter is a real racer and could cause an upset with this car. Other 250F Maserati drivers will be Johnnie Mansel and Gavin Quirke. Ferraris will be driven by the local man, Pat Hoare, and the Aucklanders, Ron Royeroft and R. H. Smith. Two interesting locally built specials-the Stanton Corvette of Charles and Maurice Stanton, and Hec Green's R.A.,"a 2-litre car with disc brakes and reputed to develop 200 brake horsepower-will also be on the starting grid. Also in the field will be the two young men most likely to succeed in motor racing-Dennis Hume and George Lawton. These are brilliant young drivers in the McLaren . tradition. They will drive 1960 c.c. Cooper-Climaxes. Notable absentees are the Cooper exponents, Sid Jensen and Merv Neil. Brabham To Race Here? LTHOUGH the Christchurch Motor Racing Club has not yet had an entry from world champion Jack Brabham for the 150-mile Lady Wigram Trophy on January 23, it is now highly likely that the 33-year-old Australian will start with his works 21-litre Cooper-Climax. When the No. 2 works driver, Bruce McLaren, communicated with the club about his own entry last week he said Brabham would start. Earlier it had been announced that Brabham would contest only the New Zealand Grand Prix at Ardmore on January 9. But he has evidently changed his mind. Has Never Won Here Although Brabham has been placed at Wigram, he has never won the race. Inst year he was just beaten by B.R.M.'s Ron Flockhart in one of the most thrilling races seen here. Immediately after Wigram Brabham and McLaren will go to South America for the first race in the 1960 championship series - the Grand Prix of the Argentine. Although Brabham will certainly be favourite in the trophy race, he may not have things all his own way. South Islands circuits have not been kind to him in the past. This year's opposition here could prove strong. The Mystery Man Mystery man at the moment is the former New Zealand champion, the Aucklander Ross Jen- He has turned down the sen. drive in the Lotus because, it 18 said, he will field a much faster car for the series. No official Liformation has been released, but this car is reported to be fitted with a 4t-litre Maserati motor and to have disc brakes. Ibe chassis will most likely be a modified 250F Maserati frame. Jensen has not yet entered for Wigram, but is certain to. He could prove one of the hardest Moss Will Not Race At Wigram By Peter Greenslade AUCKLAND, To-day. Stirling Moss will not be racing in the Lady Wigram Trophy at Christchurch on January 23. Christchurch motor racing club officials approached him here this week, but Moss Just cannot make it, although he would have liked to come soutn The trouble is that the voung Englishman has another important commitment. Court Appearance He is due to appear in Court in England within the next week or two, and as the hearing was adjourned to enable him to race in the Grand Prix of the United States in Becember, he feels that it is imperative that he returns home and not risk another adjournment, according to club officials. Moss is a young man in a hurry always, but he is going to be particularly busy for the next month or so. In spite of the fact that it was announced in South Africa that he would not race in the Argentine because too many inexperi enced drivers would be taking part, he has now evidently changed his mind. Can't Miss It Moss will race in the first of the 1960 world championship events, the Grand Prix of the Argentine. The 1959 world champion Jack Brabham, and New Zealand's Bruce McLaren will be there, and no doubt Moss feels that if he is to win the championship that has evaded him so long, he cannot afford to risk missing • a race.