8-12 - 76 8-1-77 20 for motor-racing By JOHN FRIDD Next January's Lady Wig. motor-racing classic is shaping up as the best for some years, with a large field of overseas and New Zealand drivers already signed up for the Peter Stuyvesant series. This year's Lady Wigram race attracted only 11 starters, and there were seven finishers. But the 1977 series has already attracted 20 confirmed starters, and more are expected to turn up. Formula 5000 has been dropped by New Zealand promoters "this year, and formula Pacific introduced in a bold move to stimulate flagging interest in motor-sport, after a series of "processions" in the New Zealand F5000 series last January. Instead of the rowdy 5000 cu. cm V8-powered cars seen on circuits this year, the cars for next season all contain highly-modified 1600 cu. cm engines, mainly Ford BDAs. The new breed of car, which is run successfully as Formula Atlantic in America and Europe, will be down on power compared with the F5000 cars but improved handling might produce comparable lap times on tighter circuits. With larger fields, and ; much closer racing because of the similarity in machines, the five-race Stuyvesant series should produce some exciting racing. The January 30 race at Wigram is the last race in the 1977 series, which starts at Bay Park (January 3), then the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekone on January S, Manfeild (January 16) and Teretonga (January 23). If the series is a close one, as ¡it promises to be, the Wigram race could be a thrilling spectacle, as drivers battle for the over-all title. The Wigram circuit will remain the same this year, but the water-filled drums that kept drivers on the track last Januar., will be replaced by huge scraper tyres, set further back from the track to give drivers a better chance of correcting before crashing. Admission charges will remain the same. Leading the list of drivers entered for the $60,000 serjes ($12,000 for each meeting) are three New Zealandborn men. Kenny Smith, Dave Movilian and John Nicholson. Smith, the Wigram titie-holder, is forsaking his F5000 Lola for a brandnew March 76B and will be very quick, McMillan has his new Ralt well-sorted and knows the track, and Nicholson, now based in England, won the British Atlantic serlies twice and should be well up in the Modus he is bringing over for the series. Overseas drivers signed are ¡Tom Gloy (Canada, Tui), Milk- Mikko Kozarowitzky •.. top Finnish driver coming out for the series: ko Kozarowitzky (Finland), Opert Chevron), Richard Melville (Jamaica, March 76B), Philip Sharp England, formerly New Zealand, Modus), Howard Wood (England, formerly N.Z. March 76B), Bruce Allison (Australia, Ralt), Andrew Miedecke (Australia, Lola T360, Enno Buesselman (Australia, Birrana), Wolfgang Prejawa (Australia, (Birrana) and David Saunders (England, formerly Ashburton. March 75B). The other New Zealanders entered are Graham Baker (Christchurch, Birrana), David Oxton (Auckland, 'Chevron), Ross Stone (Stone- series McLaren), Peter Hughes (Brabham Fiat), Rex Hart (Surtees), and Steve Millen (Auckland, Chevron 76). Most of the overseas drivers are unknown in New Zealand at present, but are recognised as being among the leading drivers in their class in the world. Another feature of the Wigram meeting will be two rounds of the Shellsport "big bangers" saloon car series. It will probably mark the first appearance in Christchurch of the new P.D.L. Mustang, driven by Leo Leomard. The best of the saloons will take part in an Australian-New Zealand challenge race. The New Zealand team will probably comprise Leonard, Jack Nazer (McLaren Victor) jand Don Halliday (Capri), while the expatriot Kiwi, Jim Richards, will lead the Australians in his ageing Mustang, along with допу Edmondson (Charger) and one other member, yet to be determined. Backing up the feature races will be an O.S.C.A. race, two production saloon races and two motorcycle races. A total of $20,450 in prize money will be offered at the meeting, which should attract more spectators than the one last January. INE BA By COLIN BRYANT This month's Lady Wigram car race will be the last. In a shock decision by the world ruling body for motor sport, the airfield circuit will not be issued with another permit for racing. The worid authority reasons it cannot inspect a circuit for its suitability as a motor racing circuit if.it is only used once a year. The president of the Motorsport Association New Zealand ' Mr Ron• Frost) says the authority has said it would not give a permit for racing at Wigram after this year. However, Mr Frost has asked the authority to reconsider its verdict. "I hope they will consider sending somebody to look at the circuit when it is being used for racing, ; he says. It is understood that safety is one of the main reasons for the decision to end racing at Wigram. RECORD However, the secretary of the Motor Racing Club in Christchurch (Mr Gordon Sheppard) says Wigram has one the best safety records in the country. "There have been no injured spectators and only one driver has been taken to hospital," he says. This is within a period of almost 30 years. "If a car gets out of control, there is a lot of room before it gets to the spectator area." he points out. RA Mr Sheppard said that most other circuits in New Zealand . require a lot of work to bring them up to international standards Our safety record is reing ignored," he says. However. Mr Sheppard says that in spite of a refus- al for a full permit for use of the circuit after this year, he understands there is nothing to prevent restricted permits being issued. This means that overseas drivers can still compete. unless they are graded drivers (formula one!. In an effort to overcome some of the objections regarding saiety. the organisers intend to use old tyres as temporary barriers. Last year they used concrete blocks. If Wigram dies then Ruapuna will be re-born. Plans are under way tor $100,000 extension to bring the cireuit into a grand prix category. Apart from extensions of the track to international status, there will be alterations to the spectator area. Instead of permitting spectators to view racing organisers from round the circuit, keep intend to them within a defined area on one side of the track. To do this, they will have to extend the banking, and erect a fence to the deputy convenor of the track com- Aceording mittee, (Mr Geoff Scholes!, the track would have to cater for up to 20,000 spectators. He says pit lanes and new pit facilities are also in the planning stage.