16-11-62 9-10-62 WORLD CLASS ENTRY FOR WIGRAM TROPHY T'REE of the world's leading racing motorists, Bruce McLaren, John Surtees, and Tony Maggs, have been engaged to compete in the ninth international Lady Wigram Trophy at Christchurch on January 19. Negotiations are now in train to engage another three, Graham Hill, Innes Ireland, and Jim Clark or Jack Brabham. Hill, a 33-year-old Lon-racing teams will not have car was developed as a test doner, is leader of to modify and trans bed for the safety car which B.R.N. team and currently port their Formula I Grand was the brainchild of the leading in the World Pacing Prix cars to New Zealand British industrialist, the Drivers' Championship ser- in time for the first race in late Mr Harry Ferguson. ies. the series, the New Zealand Grand Prix on January The Ferguson made a A Scottish farmer, Clark brief appearance in the is leader of the Lotus team 5. 1961 British Grand Prix. and still has a chance of A few weeks later Stiris New Zealand's foremost winning the title. McLaren claren Special Cars ling Moss drove it to racing driver and leader of victory in the Oulton However, some teams are Park International Gold the Cooper team. Currently currently preparing special Cup race. It has not he is holding third place on cars for the New Zealand been raced since then. the world title ladder. races. Mclaren will race a Ireland, formerly a mem- New to N.Z. specially built 27 litre ber of the Lotus team, has Cooper under the spon- been driving for the United The oniy man who has not Dominions Trust - Laystall sorship of the well- racing team in Europe this raced previousiy in this known British racing country is Maggs, a South season. His problem at the patron Tommy Atkins. moment is to obtain a suit- African, who is McLaren's supporter in the Cooper The powerful Bowmaker able car for the New Zeateam. racing team, which is man- land and Australian series. As things stand at pres- aged by the veteran driver At present Clark is also ent, it is more likely that Reg Parnell, is also build ¡looking for a suitable machwill come to New ing two special cars. They ine and, if he is unable to Zealand than Brabham. The will be Lolas, Britain's lat- obtain one, Brabham may Australian, who was woria est Grand Prix racers, and take his place and bring out champion in 1959 and 1960, be driven by Surtees one of his own cars, a Brabhas been a regular campaig- and, perhaps, Maggs. ham. ner in New Zealand for a is almost certain that number of seasons and won Hill will be a Wigram star- | Best to Date' the trophy race in 1960 and ¡ter and his entry will cor- 1961. However, it may be tainly add colour to the Sponsor of the 150-mile that business commitments Wigram race is the Motor will prevent him competing He has completed nego- Racing Club and its presihere next January. tiations to race the revoin- dent (Mr J. A. Brewer) said The fact that the last tionary four-wheel drive this morning that the overrace in the nine-round Ferguson racing car. This seas line-up for the January world title series will classic showed promise of not take place until Dec. being the best to date. ember 29 in South "Their records this Africa has complicated year show that they are plans for overseas dris. all very evenly matched, ers to some extent. with the majority of It means that the British them well up or the championship ladder," said Mr Brewer. "I doubt if we could obtain a better field of international drivers anywhere in the world to-day." FOOINOTE: Stirling Moss is on the list of overseas drivers wanted for the 1963 season by New Zealand and Australian promoters. But no word has been received yet about his possible re turn to racing. 919-62 SALOON CAR THE Votor Racing Club. promoter of the Lady Wigram Trophy meeting. has outlined its rules for the conduct of saloon car races on the 1963 programme. Latitude Competitors will be given a fair amount of latitude as far as modifications are concerned for. although the club has laid down that saloons should appear to be standard in appearance. it is suggested that drivers who wish to improve the periormance of their cars by tuning. weight reductions, better brakes and similar moves should be restricted as little as posble. Cars entered in saloon events must be full fourseaters but pre-war coupes, Triumph Heralds, and such types will be eligible. Modifications All engines must be of the same make and tipe as list- RULES led by the manufacturer for the particular model, but they may be modified. However, modifications to exterior bodywork are forbidden with the possible exception making provision for additional cooling with the use of louvres and "power bulges" to accommodate additional carburetitors or other speed equipment. Competitors will not be restricted as far as fuel is: concerned, but tubeless: tyres are banned. Convertibles Convertibles wil be eligible for saloon race prorided they have the same: seating capacity as the saioon equivalents; weigh at least as much; have similar wheelbase and track and chasis dimensions; and compete with hoods raised and all windows wound up with the exception of the off-side front window. Sports Models Hardtops and Grand Touring cars will be classified as sports models. Among the cars falling into this category are the Austin-Healey, the XK and E-type Jaguars, Porsche, Aston Martin, and TR Triumphs. N.Z. CHAMPION RACING DRIVER HOARE RETIRES TEW ZEALAND c N Pat Hoare, of C his retirement from motor sport last night. This morning Hoare informed the New Zealand International Grand Prix organisation that he would not be starting in the 175mile Grand Prix at Pukekohe on January 5. The decision to retire was finally made yesterday after Hoare and his wife had thoroughly discussed the matter. No New Car Earlier the champion had agreed with Mrs Hoare that he would only continue in motor racing this season if he was able to obtain a new Ferrari. Negotiations have been in train with the Italian manufacturer for some months, but in the last few days Hoare learnt that there was no possibility of obtaining the new car in time for the international series of races in January. Last season Hoare won the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs' road racing Gold Star championship. He was first New Zealander to finish in the Grand Prix and he won the national races held at Renwick and Waimate. The previous season he had won the association's hill - climb Gold Star championship and is the only New Zealand racing motorist Tho has held both titles. Many racing motorists, hampion racing driver Christchurch, announced active participation in both here and overseas. I have announced their intention of retiring from the sport and then made come-back, , but Hoare intends to stick by his decision. "I fully intended to race again this season with a ¡ new rear-engined car, but I Pat Hoare did give my wife an undertaking that I would not race otherwise," he said. "Now that negotiations with Ferrari have broken down, I am definitely retiring. Reasons "For one thing, I made a pact with my wife who has had to put up with the nervous strain for long enough, and for another I do not consider that it would be wise to resume after being out of the game for a whole season." Hoare has taken an active part in New Zealand motor sport since it first began on an organised basis after the war, He played a prominent part in the formation of the Association of New Zealand Car Clubs and was its first president. He has probably competed in more first - class New Zealand races than any other driver. . Although Hoare will not be racing again he does not intend to sever his connections with the sport. He hopes that his wealth of experience can be of value on the administrative side of the sport.