20-1-67 Fast Laps Recorded By Wigram Drivers fine weather at the 2.3 mile aerodrome circuit at Christchurch this morning. First out on the track were|centred on the light-weight V8 starting line through failure the trophy race drivers and Repco-Brabham of the world either to qualify or because it soon became obvious that champion driver and racing of poor times due to mechcompetition is going to belcar manufacturer Jack Brab- anical troubles. keen because the overseas bam. It was the first appear- Under the club's system tomen were all circulating ance of the car in New Zeamorrow the drivers of the around the 98 miles an hour land. obviously faster cars will be mark. Brabham must do wel to-: i given postuons up • towards There is a side prize of 2400 morrow if he is going to be the front of the line although for the first driver who laps in the running for this sea-! the drivers who have obthe circuit at 100 miles an son's Tasman championship. viously recorded the fastest hour in one of the prefiminary He did not show his hand, times will have the premier and the engine heats before the trophy race however, positions. itself to-morrow. sounded a bit woolly. However, mechanics Although most of the were busily engaged in testing time this morning getting everything right was taken up with sus for Brabham to make a pension adjustments and bid for a good starting experimenting with tyre pesition when the qualithe drivers fying trials were held this pressures, afternoon. were still going quicker There was quite a big crowd! than they usually do in the at the circuit to see the drivers early training sessions. in action. This year, the Motor Racing Club has arranged Fastest lap in training last that the paddock be on the year was put in by Jackie outside of the circuit for to- Stewart, the B.R.M. team day, so that spectators could leader, at 98.8 miles an hour. have a close look at This was during the afternoon drivers and cars. qualifying trials for race day starting grid positions. Success this morning, nothing at stake, the former The experiment proved a world champion Jim Clark was officially timed at 1min great success, TE 24sec for a lap. This was only where the main interest lay 0.zsec outside Stewart's figure when the cars went out on last year, and represented the the track The strong north-westerly speed of 98.57 miles an hour. A great deal of interest wind did perhaps have some effect on maximum speeds on Wigram's long back straight. However, the weather man is forecasting a fine day with a ight north-easterly to-morrow nd if he is right it could be as has been the case at Pukekohe and Levin, that the fastest lap to-morrow in the race itself will be an improvement on the fastest qualifying time this afternoon. Allocation The club, although qualifying trials were held this atternoon, has reserved the right to allocate starting grid positions for the preliminary heats to-morrow and for the main race. General practice is to determine the starting positions on the basis of lap times. In the past at Wigram and elsewhere this has mont that some of the Australian driving ace Jack Brabham in a high speed trial i in his 2½ litre Repco- Brabham at Wigram today.