22-1-72 LINE-UP FOR TODAY'S WIGRAM RACE McRae close fastest, behind others him (By A. J. PETRE) Unless bad weather Trophy will be the fastest only l.Isec covering the lap day, it should also provide intervenes, today's race for run in New Zealand or Au -times of the five fastest cars intense competition for the h The defending champion, G. McRae, tool his Leda-MeRae GMI around the 2.13-mile circuit in a blistering Imin 5.9sec, at an average speed of 116.35 m.p.h., for the day's fastest time. It makes him a clear favourite for rictory 10day, and in the fastest average speed on a New Zealand circuit. Since last year, the track has been shortened from 2.3 miles, the hairpin at the end of the main straight has been replaced by a fast lefi-hander, and the "loop," after controltower bend, has been modified to a hairpin. On the old circuit last year, l * McRae set a lap record of |1:17.3 or an average of 107.12 im.p.h. So the track changes, : and improvements to cars land tyres in the last 12 [months, have added nearly 10 jm.p.n. to the lap speed More speed yet McRae might go even faster today. A brisk easterly wind held his speed on the back straight down to somewhere between 170 and 180 m.p.h., and for today he will fit a higher gear ratio. He also plans to change to what ¡he feels will be tore suitable tyres, and to check on why his Leda's engine was overheating in resterday's practice. This last may mean an overnight engine change. McRae will share the front row of the rolling-start grid with the English driver, Hobbs (McLaren M22). Hobbs had a lap in Imin 6.3sec (115.65 m.p.h.), although he said his car was tending to oversteer badly, and he was having trouble getting the ‚power on to the track. The Australian, K. Bartleit. in the McLaren MIOB raced last year by N. Allen, proved ¡he had finally got the car set lup to his satisfaction-and i surprised some of the com- •petitors-by taking third best time of 1:6.5 (115.30 m.p.h.). Hailwood troubled Alongside him on the second row of the grid will be other the English driver, M. Hailwood, who took his Surtees TS& around in lmin 16.7sec (114.96 m.p.h.). Hailwood, who is the pre- ¡sent leader of the Tasman championship points table with a score of 10 to the nines of McRae and the Australian, F. Gardner (Lola T300), covered only a few laps. He decided to change gear-ratios early in the piece, but after he had done so,. covered only. a few more: laps before gearbex trouble set in and removed him from the fray. The Australian, F. Matich. iwho is fourth on the points ¡table with six, did not have a good day. His car went out in the morning with a new gearbox, and was soon sidelined with a gearbox oil leak. He 'later had handling problems, and his best time of 1:7 will put him the third row of the grid with the the Lady Wigram astralia. And with in practice vesterigh placings. American, E. Voyes (Mc- Laren MI8), who notched a rather ragged 1:7.6. Two Australians, J. Mc- Cormack and Max Stewart, (bith Elfin Aepco), will share the fourth row, McCormack having 1:7.7 and Stewart I:8.6. Both had handling problems yesterday, and Stewart damaged two wheels when he slid into a kerb. The Belgian, E. Pilette (Mc- Laren MIOB), and the other Australian Elfin driver, G. cooper, will be on the nest row, with 1:8.9 and 1:9.4. Then will come the first resident New Zealander, D. Oxton (Begg FM$), 1:9.8 tollowed by D. McConnell, of Canada (G.R.D. 2-litre), 1:10.6; B. Robertson, of New 'Zealand (Brabham 1800), L:11.4; F. Radisich, of New Zealand (McLaren Repco),/ 1:12.7, N. Doyle, of New Zealand (Begg FM2), 1:12.9; R. Francevic, of New Zealand! (McLaren M10B), h3. The drivers wil have a, brief timed practice this morning in which they can, it they post faster practice! times than they did yesterday, improve their positions on the. grid. But it is unlikely that any of the top drivers will improve that much, and many want to wear their cars out by trying. probably will not McRae will clearly be keen! to win today. Hailwood, with: a one-point lead in the championship, could easily soldier on. gaining second or third place, and piling up a win-. ring score through reliability and consistent driving. Late start Practice started nearly an mp.., and P. Fahey (P.D.L. 'hour late because of repairs Mustang) and I. W. Dawson that had to be made to a Kensington i drain which crosses the track ¡join him on the front in the new hairpin, but teams of the grid. Ptook adiantage of the op-l in the open saloon car portunity to make final ad-i category, the fastest time Noyes, Hailwood and Oxton went to the Anglia Corvette Hof A. Dickie. But among the had new engines in, but Mc- saloons generally some spec- Rae did not, and Cooper and tacular performances McCormack were still working on overcoming the rollsteer effects they (Escort) and S. Millen (Jaguar ting from the Elfin's rear sus- In the Formula Libre class As usual, cars were in and —a mixture of single-seaters out of the pits during the first. sports-racing adjusting Pederson (Gemco Olds) was Jaerofoils, easily fastest, as well as and gearing. G. Harvey (Elin) ahead of D. Movillan the fine gravel which is always present early in prac- The races today will start tice, and many orershot at! with the Formula Libre event ileast once at the new hair- ¡at Il a.m., and the main race pin. Where the fast cars have is timed for 2.05 p.m. There and turn slightly while passing over a bump at sessions in the morning bethe approach to the corner: a! fore the first race. bump which often makes cars leave the track. In official practice during the afternoon, several drivers had troubles. Hobbs had to his McLaren's oversteering tendencies, Stewart could not get his car to handle well, and McConnell had a bad engine miss SPECTATOR BARRIER≥ RE at high speed. WT Radisich started the session/ ESCAPE ROUTE with no clutch, and soon had The to drop out with differential! Hairpir Main Straight trouble as well. M M - FLAG MARSHAL. Supporting events MT - TOILET-MEN. WT - TOILET -WOMEN. Cars which will take part in the supporting events also! R - FULL REFRESHMENTS. practised during the day. in AMI - AMBULANCE INSIDE both the saloon and single- CIRCUIT. seater categores, many, AMZ- AMBULANCE OUTSIDE NO SPECTATORS drivers found themselves CIRCUIT-TRAVELLING. Vickerys PERMITTED ON caught out by the new hair- * - HOSPITAL. INSIDE OF CIRCUIT pin and had to shoot off the PT - FIRE TENDER. marked circuit, between the drums. The fastest time in the Bank of New South Wales! ¡saloon title category went toi D. Marwood (Chevrolet: • Club COMPETTTORS Curre Control ENTRANCE CONTROL TONSE LAPORAT AND PUSLE Tower ADARS OT TIMING STAND Bend M ...- AMT HT SPECTAT BARRIER. START ONLY CREWS *1 MT TIRT paddocked : Ro GRAMDSTAHD - FINISH ₩T 'Hangar Berd Bomb-Bay Berd M Back Straight SPECTATOR BARRIER LADY WIGRAM TROPHY RACE.~Spectator arrangements for tne Lady wigram trope men bankr are shown in this map, drawn from te point of view of the spectator in the srandstand who looks out southwards over the circuit.