25-1-65 ClarkR W Wigram Race DAME FORTUNE securing victory motorist Jim Clark in Trophy on Saturday. Driving at record-breaking! speed, he built up a lead of nearly half a minute over his! closest rival, Bruce McLaren, and then noticed that the oil pressure in his 2.5 litre Lotus- Climax was dropping danger-i ously. Worried incase Nic- Laren's pit crew might realise that something was amiss and signal the information to the New Zealand Cooper-Climax driver, Clark only diminished his pace fractionally. But to save his engine, he resorted • to coasting along the straights whenever possible. and using the lower gear ratios only when absolutely necessary. In the late stages of the race McLaren was able to make up some lost ground and finally came home in second place just 10.2sec behind Clark Trying Hard Although the race developed into something of a procession, there was no doubt that McLaren, who won this event in 1963 and 1964, was really trying as hard as he could. His twenty sixth tour of the cireuit 1min 25.9sec equalled the. record set the by Clark in his reliminarv heat. Clark's race-winninz time of 64 min 19.3sec was 41.5sec inside that of sicLaren in 1964 and, of McLaren was also well withi within his previous winning figure. National champion Jim Palmer turned up tramps again iTt his 2.5-litre Repco-Brabhan - Climax to take his third successire third place in this season's series of international races. played a part in for Scottish racing n the Lady Wigram The position was not easily won for was the outcome of wheel-to-wheel duel for 33 laps with the Australian Frank Gardner who, in his Repco-Brabham-Climax, bad beaten Palmer out of second piace at the previous meetings. Gardner finished good fourth. These four were the only ones to go the full distance.i Next in line was Kerry Granti (Brabham-Climax › who completed 43 laps. in sixth place was Poly Levis. sino com- 42 laps in his 1.5 litre rabhanı-Ford—a grand effort with car that was underpowered for the extremely fast Wigram circuit. Clark Leads This, the third round in the! seven-race Tasman Championship series. put Clark into the lead with a total of 18 points -the maximum he can score In the four-race New Zealand sertion of the championship. still with a chance arrent and improving their scores if they can return better performances than they have already when they race at Teretonga Park, Invercarnext Saturday. Gardner and Palmer are next in line with 15 and 12 points respectively. Retirements in the trophy тасе were Aucklander Redl Dawson 12.5 Cooper-Climax) with differential trouble after one lap; Lower Hutt's Rex Flowers (2.5 Lola-Climax) with loss of oil pressure after three laps: and McLaren's team-mate American Phil Hill (2.5- Cooper-Climax). with a broken half-shaft when lying fourth in twenty-fifth lap. Another unlucky driver was Bruce A bernethy. whose Cooper-Climat was still being attended to on the starting 2rid when the flag fell. Two subsequent pit stops to remedy over-beating troubles put bim ont of contention and he inished in twelfth place. Following two preliminary heats earlier in the day, the final of the ai-coner's saloon cal race. which cottnted 1owards this vear's News Zealand Racing Drivers" Club saloon championship provided Aucklander Paul Fahey (Lotus- Cortina) with magnificent ictory rom vet anotner Auct lander Rob Coppins (Corvette whose car Tras cer- Zainithe tainiy most powerful the circuit, hitting 140 miles an hour on the back straight but lacking in braking and road-holding. Coppins was followed home by fellow members of Tear Molyslip. Jack Nazer (Lotus Anglia). John Tard (Lotus- Cortina) and Тоду Lawrence (Angiia). lext in line were the S-type Mini-Coopers of Napier doctor Dick Langlev. rho had won two events earlier in the day. and Morrinsville driver Brian Innes. The meeting was held in fine but often threatening weather before a crowd conservatively estimated Motor Racing Club officials of 18,000. Trophy Race First Heat-B. McLaren! (N.Z.), 2.5 Cooper-Climax, 16 min 11.2sec, 1; F. Gardner (Australia), 2.5 Repco-Brabhar Climax, 16min 12.7 se A. Buchanan (N.Z.), 1.5 Brabham- Ford, 17min 27sec, 3; I. Dawson (A.Z.). 2.5 Cooper-Climax 17 28.Isec, 4; J. Riley (N.Z.), :2.5 pleted, min Lotus-Climax, 5: Lantence 10 laps (N.Z..) com , 1.5 Brabham-Ford. 10 laps. 6. Fastest lap: McLaren, 1min 26.8sec Second Heat-J. Clark (L.K.), 25 Lotus-Climas, 16min Issec, 1: K. Grant (V.2.). 2.5 Brahham- Climax. 16min 42.8sec, 2: Thomasen (.N.Z.), 2.5 Repco. Brabham-Climax. 17min 42.2 • sec, 3: J. Palmer (N.Z.) 10 laps completed. 4: P. Gillum (N.Z.). 1.5 Cooper-Ford. 10 laps: 5. Fastest lap: Clark, Imin 25.9sec. a record. Lady Wigram Trophy Race ·100 miles)-J. Clark (T.K.), 2.J Lotus-Climar, 64mim 19.3sec. 1: B. McLaren (N.Z.). 2.5 Cooper- Climax, 64min 29.Jsec, 2: J. Palmer (.N.Z.). 2.5 Repco-Brab ham-Climar, 65min 58sec. 3; F. Gardner (Australia). 2.5 Repco- Brabham-Climax, 66min Ilsec, 4: k. Grant (N.Z.) 2.5 Repco- Brabham-Climax, 43 laps completed, 5; R. Levis (4.2.), Brabham-Ford, 42 laps, 6. Fast est lap: B. McLaren, Imin 25.9 sec, a record. Other Erents Half Hour Gold Leaf Saloon Car Race-R. B. Langley (AUS tin-Cooper s), 16 1; B Innes (Morris-Cooper lap5's) 1a1or 16 laps. 2: R Fock ris-Cooper S), 15 laps. 3: F. Turner (Morris-Cooper S), 15 laps. 4; HI. J. Zeias (Morris Cooper). 13 laps. 5. Motor Racing Club Champion ship (25 miles -B. Porter ( Lotus-Climax), 18min 20.8sec. J. Boya {Lycoming). 18min 24 sec, 2; Rutherford (260V 18min 47.8sec. 3; MI. Zephyr), (Stanton-Corvette) Stanton min 24.4sec. W. R. Caldwell 19 (Lola), 19min 30.4sec, Car All-comers' Saloon Race -First Heat (20 miles. 9 laps): R. B. Langley 1, B. Innes 2, Collins (Christchurch), Anglia, 3. Time-16min 49.7sec Second Heat (20 miles)-P Faher (Lotus-Cortina), 16min 15.6sec, 1; Franicevic (Ford Cortina). 16min 48sec, 2; Nazer (Lotus-Anglia), 16min 49 sec. 3. Final Fahey, Fahes, 12min 22.6 sec, 1: R. 12min 34.4 2; J. Nazer, I2min 3: Ward. 12min 25.3sẹc, 252.74 T. Lawrence, 13mi. 5. The viciory circuit that more than makes up for all the effort spent during the race. Jim Clark (right), winner of the eleventh international Lady Wigram Trophy race, run on Saturday, and Bruce McLaren, who was placed second, are the subjects for more than a few camera enthusiasts as they are driven round the circuit following the race.