Threat to Fabi in time trials
Dave McMillan threw a surprise into the 1979 Lady Wigram Trophy time trials, fastest in the first session with 71.9 sec ahead of Perkins and Fabi. In the second session Fabi was credited with a provisional 70.8 sec and McMillan 71 sec, but McMillan's team claimed their time was 70.9 and officials were to reconsider.
Lap times
- Dave McMillan (Ralt): 1:11.9 qualifying
- Larry Perkins (March 77B): 1:12.6 qualifying
- Teo Fabi (March): 1:13.1 qualifying
- Teo Fabi (March): 1:10.8 qualifying
- Dave McMillan (Ralt): 1:11.0 qualifying
- Brett Riley (March): 1:14.4 qualifying
- Brett Riley (March): 1:12.4 qualifying
- Larry Perkins (March 77B): 1:12.4 qualifying
- John Smith (Ralt): 1:12.4 qualifying
Facts
- McMillan's Ralt was rebuilt after a front cross-member broke in a crash at Teretonga, and had extra streamlining for the fast Wigram circuit.
- Riley damaged both left-side wheels hitting concrete at the hairpin during first practice at Wigram in January 1979.
- Fabi had been on pole for every race of the 1979 series before Wigram.
Photos
- Cars for the Lady Wigram Trophy race move out of the pits for the start of practice runs.
- New Zealand's Steve Millen in his Chevron B32 during a practice lap.
- Three times winner of the Lady Wigram Trophy in the early 1950s, Ron Roycroft's Alfa Romeo P3 returned to the track.
