30- Rosberg robbed of his chance in last race but carries off series By RUSSELL JONES Aeke Rosberg is undisputed champion of the Peter Stuyvesant seric: after a win at Wigram yesterday but the linal points margin was much narrower than he would have expected. Andrew Miedecke (Austra-lengine had been losing oil might have finished fourth worrying time between prac- lia, lying pressure. had be not spun in the corlice on Saturday - when he seventh after going wide at Rosberg's win gave him ner alter the start on the the second the championship, set ond the tist rest me lap ad Dan was keen to lake the second Sullivan also drove well, mechanics worked until the (United States March) was race as well - and $2215. early hours of Sunday morn- behind him after thirteenth to seventh and ing trying to find a fault in spectacularly on the firstlenden at the corner, Grob worked away al his engine but it was not lap. and determined the fortunes tail-enders to finish eighth. until after the warm-up laps Of the seven other cars in of a number of other drivers After 1ht race both Ros. yesterday that the problem the race only lan Grob of as well. berg and Millen were bul After the race a number The only driver who could through 1o score points in of drivers were accused of dangerous." challenge Rosberg for the what was certainly his best causing the multiple shunt series title, Larry Perkins, of race of the 10-race series. Australia, led the first race On the eighth lap Perkins would be almost impossible was hehind from the start after securing| hit some oil or water on the to apportion blame. the grid." pole position in practice. He circuit and nearly left the Rahal was certainly in the definitely the track as he battled with an thick of it, having made a lavourite, especially as Ros- understeering slide. This was good start from the fourth berg had to pass two other the opportunity Rosberg row of the grid, and later Millen. cars before he could chal-needed and he was through admitted he who brake me in a stupid place shunted Rosherg and we were both lucky to lenge Perkins for the lead. Rosberg's problems were Perkins said that the slide After the tyre smoke hadigs out of it." lap "cooked" his front tyres and drifted away and the field The Australian. who when Dave McMillan, a New slowed him for the rest of had no tired from the race when a Zealand driver who had won the race. But Rosberg also strander two things driveshaft broke, denier hitthe other spot on the front had tyre problems: the left were clear: Rosherg was out, Rosberg's row of the grid, retired with rear dellating and the running order was first-corner langle. "I admit l've had a feu a damaged engine. McMil-slowly and he was forced togentirely unexpected. Chevron hadicases of brain fade during lan's luck changed later in ease up. Perkins was catch-! Rosberg s ing the Finn at half a been tossed up in the melee the week-end but i didn't hit The other driver Rosbergisecond a lap, but the race and struck the bitumen heav- Someone shunted me up the had 1o pass was also a Newlended before he had alily on its right-hand wheels. breaking the suspension and backside." Oxton chance 1o pass. Millen said Miederke was Oxton's third was the re. crushing he rear wheel. (Arkedn", hard the sull of a clean, thoughtful climbed from the car with trying to win the race in the Saturday to beat Rosberg drive. He had a problem too: out even. attempting to re-first corner, "and that's just and take third place on the the nose cone of his car start, but Grob, who had also not on." spun, was able to start his grid, but in the race Rosberg came loose and litten on the engine and sel off in pursuit angry about being shunier was too good for him and straight, deflecting air from and making off in the first corner - " under-braking the rear wing MeMillan led the race, fol- cost him the chance of being going into the hairpin. the car difficult to control. Zealander Asked later how the Finn was lowed by Perkins. avoided the worst of theithe series. That honour wen? the top New had passed him. Oxton said slowed by a miss during the shunt. But from there down to McMillan. he did not know. "He just race and on the eighteenth the order bore no relation to does it," he said echoing the lap Rahal passed him to Rahal folother take fourth place. On the grid lowed them, with Stone, Eric drivers that Rosberg is in same lap Sullivan First Stoptesant race: K. puncture which put him out Morgan (Wellington, Ken Smith (Auckland, Oxton finished third in and gave Grob who had Rail. 26:26.0, 2; D. Oxton (Auck March). Hugh Owen (Blenthat race but his luck was passed Stone three laps earlalso to change. ier sixth place. heim. Rall), Miedecke, Mil- States Chevron, 22-lap race for len, Peter Larner (Australia, Two other casualties were Brabham), Robbie Francevic Formula Pacific cars on the Richard Melville (Auckland), circuit put out on the eighth lap (Auckland, Modus), and Grob making Smith •Aucklandı March, 27:306 began clearly - the drivers when the engine had been warned al a brief- March blew an oil line, andlup the firlot. i Wellington, ing that the race would start Miedrike. real passed McMillan the 9: 11. Owen (Blenhein Rail. on the first paced lap, and suspension of the Alistra- lead but for the rest of the laps. 10. Fastest lap: Rosber any "misbehaviour" lian's car collapsed in the be penalised - and, as ex- race the only other place fast Control Tower corner changes in the lop six were kins. perted, Perkins took the! and he slid to the side of Millen and Oxton (Aucklandi Rall. 26:38.8, 2; Ratal the track in a cloud of Stone, who finished sixth. S100c, 27:003. After seven laps the orderismoke, sparks and dust. The three New Zealanders Rosberg, spent two! March. 27:09.0, Millen (Auck- frantic hours between the all drove well. Millen 8; Owen. 26:23.0. 9: Smith. 2628.1 land, Chevron) Bobby Ratal races cars worked his way up from (United States, Chevron) and serviceable again. McMillan's ninth mechanics filled his car with Ross Stone (Tuakau) in the battled through from twelfth. another engine, as Cuda built by him and bis works to fifth; and Stone drove a brother Jim. March team - Sullivan'sivery brave race in which hels.