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Lap record at 117mph by Ken Smith

Ken Smith of Auckland broke the Wigram lap record in his Lola T332 in the second of three qualifying sessions, lapping at 117.333 mph (67.5sec) to take pole for the 100-mile 1976 Lady Wigram Trophy. Max Stewart was second fastest (67.8sec) and Kevin Bartlett third (69.8sec). Fastest saloon was Allan Moffat (Chevrolet Monza) in 78.1sec, inside the saloon record of 79.9sec set in 1975 by John McCormack.

Lap times

  • Ken Smith (Lola T332): 1:07.5 lap record
  • Max Stewart (Lola T400): 1:07.8 qualifying
  • Kevin Bartlett (Lola T400): 1:09.8 qualifying
  • Graeme Lawrence (Lola T332): 1:10.3 qualifying
  • Jim Murdoch (Begg 018): 1:10.4 qualifying
  • Brian Redman (Chevron B29 BMW): 1:10.6 qualifying
  • Bruce Allison (Lola T332): 1:11.2 qualifying
  • Paul Bernasconi (Lola T400): 1:11.2 qualifying
  • John Edmonds (Elfin MR5): 1:15.5 qualifying
  • Baron Robertson (Elfin MR5): 1:15.8 qualifying
  • Allan Moffat (Chevrolet Monza): 1:18.1 qualifying
  • John McCormack (Repco Charger): 1:19.9 lap record

Facts

  • Ken Smith's 67.5sec (117.333 mph) lap in qualifying on 17 January 1976 broke Graham McRae's 1975 Wigram record of 67.65sec (117.073 mph).
  • Bruce Allison suffered a suspected bearing failure in practice and left to change his engine.
  • Jim Murdoch crashed his Begg 018 in qualifying at Manfeild the previous Saturday but had it repaired for Wigram.

Photos

  • New Zealander Graeme Lawrence cornering during the first qualifying time trial at Wigram today in preparation for tomorrow's trophy race.
Read the OCR text
17-1-76 YEAR New Zealander Graeme Lawrence cornering durthe first qualifying time trial at Wigram today in preparation for tomorrow's trophy race. Lap at 117 by. Ken Smith By PETER GREENSLADE New Zealand Grand Prix winner Ken Smith of Auckland broke the lap record at Wigram this afternoon in his Lola T332 to get pole position for the 100 - mile international Lady Wigram Trophy Race Tomorrow. In the second of three qualifying sessions, he put in a lap the 2.2-mile circuit 117.333 mph for a time of 67.5 sec. The previous lap record, set last year by Graham McRae (MeRae GM2) was 117.073 mph (67.65sec). The second fastest today was Max Stewart of Australia who wo nthe second round of the Peter Stuyvesant series at Manfeild last Sunday in his Lola T400. He made 67.8sec. The third fastest was Australian Kevin Bartlett (Lola T400) who made 69.8sec. The fastest qualifier for both the opening rounds, Hamilton's Graeme Lawrence (Lola T332) turned out oniy "briefly at the first session early this afternoon, and blew a cylinder head gasket. The car was taken to a city workshop for repairs and he did not appear again today. However, his first session time 70.3sec was . good enough to make him fourthfastest. Only 1-10 of a second behind him was Jim Murdoch in the New Zealand designed and built Begg 018. Rewarded Murdoch crashed his car during qualifying at Manfeild last Saturday and for a time it looked as though he would not make Wigram. But an allout effort to ready the car was well rewarded this afternoon. The Englishman, Brian Red. man was given an officia] qualifying time of 67.6sec when the final session concluded late this afternoon. However Redman is driving 2-litre Chevron BMW against the 5 litre Chevroletengined Tasman formula cars and it was obvious he could timeouta not have made that time. It was subsequently re ported that Redman had, in fact, taken a short cut at the hairpin bend, and so another check on his lap time was made and he was given a best of 70.6sec, which made him sixth-fastest. Following him came the young Australians Bruce Allison (Lola T332) and Paul Bernasconi (Lola 2400) who each made 71.2sec. Allison was another one who struck trouble, with a suspected bearing , failure and he left the circuit early in the afternoon to change his engine. The best of the rest was Australian John Edmonds (Elin MR5) and the Hastings driver Baron Robertson, also in an MR5, who made 75.5 and 75.8 sec respectively. Fastest The fastest saloon car driver was the Canadian-born Allan Moffat (Chevrolet Monza) whe put in a lap of 78.1sec, weli inside the outsight saloon car record set last year by the Australian John McCormack (Repco Charger) at 79.9sec.

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