19-1-72 Wigram 'race of champions WOTAND Any one of five drivers has a good chance of His fellow-Englishman, Just the same on show- David Hobbs, con- ings at Pukekohe and Levin. winning the Lady Wigram Trophr Race on Saturday, an equal threal. chances or rictorv or and at least another three have an outside chance. took third SOUL ine tast Wigram circuit do Pukekohe his new not seem good. COL TROTMENT S one of these eight is a New Zealander: last But the contest tor the lesser placings-and the valuable championship Leda-MIcRae GNIl Chevrolet-powered points which go with car, seems potentially the fastest in the field. one. well those drivers already mentioned. Practice dav on Fri- ArA such men motor-racing nothing In the past. Gardner has Evan Noyes the United day will give a better sure. and it is often not the almost "neatenin had bad States, his in the nited idea of who has the luck at Wigram. This could Chevrolet. David Oxton of TnaT race. troubles gear the New best chance at Wigram. brought McRae's Zealand, his FM4 but if McRae's changes-after his Levin Begg Chevrolet, Garry car eme crash he will be hoping Cooper and John McCor- New Zealand's hopes in the 1972 Tasman championship rest with the defending champion, Graham MeRae, in his Leda-MeRae GMI could perform as it did McRae's main challenge does. mack Australia in their Chevrolet. MeRae, seen here on opposite lock at Pukekohe. has shown himself to be potentially the fastest in the series, and he will on the Pukekohe circuit seems likely come from But at this point. it seems works Elfin Repco cars. and —like Wigram. a fast the veteran Australian Ken Smith of New Zealand be trying hard for a win at Wigram. that Gardner and McRae in his Lotus 69. circuit-and when criter the Grand Prix win- need not expect to be front- New Zealander home at from being first lew Zea- grid. it seems sure wig. he Frank Gardner. Pukekohe: Robbie Francevic won at Levin last Satur- unchallenged. The But on polver and the age lander home at Wigram. ram spectators can expect European Formula motor-cycle champion, Mike of his seems in his McLaren MIOB Chev- some truly world-class racday, the odds are in his 5000 champion. Gardner's Hailwood. of Britain has COOPER likely to be down in the rolet. Of the 18 drivers who Lola field, fighting expected to face the ing. favour on Saturday. 1300, also also new well-proven car in the out with design, another Surtees TS8 Chevrolet, McLaren M22 Chevrolet, KATOR Robertson New A driver known starter for the main race and given a few more the very fast car, and Gardner Zealand Brabham past for his exploits are POPULAR But as the New Zealand and. as he showed st Duka_ mainly from Saturday Zestand, an experienced driver of kohe, he knows how to use could well have done 1800. David saloons, Francevic has New six Grand Prix showed, even better. Neil shown in last 12 from Australia, two from Motor-sport With two in his G.R.D., the Britain, and one each from now Doyle (New Zealand) with months that he can corona biggest spectator behind him, Hobbs should the FM2 Begg, Peter Hughes the United States, Canada, be well tuned-in to the car, a force to be reckoned and Belgium. in the United States, Zealand) in another with single-seaters. auer and have it cat up to dIs horse-racin® fourth Begg. McRae, and possibly Oxton: With a tree Britain the liking: something that Many eves will also be are the only ones who 1971 Formula 5000 single- biggest. after soccer. horsealways takes time with on the man who was first seem likely to stop him seater champions the racing and cricket. ON In many ways, Wigram Saturday couid dubbed ho race of cham- Hobbs is current inited States Formula 5000 champion, so when he races against McRae and Gardner. the crowd can. see One of sereral champions competing at Wigram on Saturday will be David Hobbs, of Britain, in his new MeLaren M22—the latest car from the McLaren factory OXTON all the world's 5000 champions at work. There another driver who must stone chance of victory. 200. 00d veteran Australian. Frank former Grand Winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix, Australian Frank Gardner, on his say to vietory at Pukekohe Prix winner. Matich. *too, is campaign- in his Lola I300. Gardner, a director of Lola cars and the firm's test-driver, is one of the favourites ing a new car: one for Wigram if his car, damaged at Levin, is repaired in time.