Fabi wIns series but McMillan Wigram star By JOHN FRIDD The Italian, Teo Fabi, Pacific series with two secor but the undoubted star of the Aucklander, Dave McMillan. : Citizen Nashua Ralt. wrapped up the 1979 New 'Lealand Formula id places at the Wigram air base yesterday, Lady Wigram Trophy races was the brilliant , who streaked away to win both heats in his Millen (Auckland, the field and was in fifth, bairpin and the two cars si airfield Martin Herz Chevron B42). place, ahead of Righ, wholaround the corner side by cirenil and was in front for Ross Stone (Tuakau, Moto-/was sliding his car around A slight touch sent most of the lwo races after gard Cuda) and Hugh Owen the corners to keep ahead of Perkins spinning on to the grass and Fabi was away in getting the better of Fabi in (Blenheim, Ralf completed Millen. early-race tussles. the field. With four laps lo a secure second place. Fabi wa in some waysi All front 101 McMillan had stretched his? 1he cars lead over Fabi to 9s, and Fabi the race, in sixth place, lucky to emerge as the winner away to fine starts as heat his car's nose-cone bad been of the series, as he collided one ega and MeMillan was being hauled in by Per- In, kins as he nursed his car, damaged was rubbing with his series-long rival, and Fabi streaked into Club on a front wheel. Aller a Perkins (Australia, Curve side by side. Fa bi with the lemperature gauge slow lap he retired. Wynns March 77B) in the braked first — as McMillan soaring second heat and could easily said later: "He had more lo McMilian reached the chehave been forced out of the lose than me" and th quered flag 14s before Fabi, cilement after that, with who managed to keep ahead race. However, this time it likeable Aucklander took the uf Perkins and Riley, With lead, Fabi holding a secure was Perkins's turn to be on lead, hotly pursued by Fabi, Ken Smith and Eigh the second place, despite still the receiving end and a bent Perkins, Riley, Elgh, Wood, only other finishers, During having overheating nose-cone forced him to re- John Emith and Ken Smith. Riley retaining tire, thus losing any chance The early action was pro- the race McMillan broke Wood and John Rosberg's lap record with a place ahead of John Smith of taking a last-gasp win in vided by 70.75 cirruit. the ries. Smith. Smith braked too late been locked in a race-long Brell Riley, the expatriate going into the hairpin and The grid for the second New crunched into the of heat was changed slightly, Zealander Rentokir Wood's car, sending Smith'slwith Riley ahcad of Perkins, McMillan swept home steadily in his jubilantly to complete a March 77B and was content Ralt flying through the air after recording a fast lap fand out of the race. durmp the first heat, and clean sweep and lake the lo wait for Fabi lo make a for if the Italian Riley squeezed past Per- Ken Smith ahead of John Lady Wigram Trophy and mistake, $4000, 1s ahead Fahi, had failed to tinish one heat kins around Club the Smith. isecond lap and set out alter Habi gul the jump at the with Riley third, John Smith the series would have been Fabi, who in turn was right start and was first out u fourth, Ken Smith fifth and Riley's. However, this was not to he and Riley finished up, on McMillan. Perkins re- Club. However, McMillan re-Jeff Wood a gallant sixti. second After the race fabi over all, 10 points By peding pen the ative ted ow tyres, which tun nconcerned about being i behind labi and 22 ahead of said that the Perkins. out Bomb Bay Bend. need sonte hite to herome who harl By lap five of the 24-lape "cored," and sure enough he Wigram track was the best McMillan. wretched run in the first two race and Fabi edged around Fabi on Bomble had driven on in the N five-round were I seconds ahead of Bay and took the lead. series. was obviously rounds of the series, finished fourth equal Perkins Riley. Going Going into the hairpin for pleased aboul winning the moved the first time Perkins also scries, after his Teretonga with the young Swede, right up on MeMillan on the gol i on the act and dived troubles last week-end • had Algh (Mar borough March thrown this into doubt. 782B), with his maximum 40 they past Fabi under hraking 10 points from yesterday's sped around Club he slipped lake second place, behind. MeMillan's performance in effort. MeMillan. Behind them were his lightened Ralt was a fine It was obvious right from For four more laps McMil- Riley. .lohn Kenfone in the company of sevlan hounded Fabi, and the Smith, Elgh, Wood, Millen leral talented overseas the start of practice On drivers, and although Riley Ralt's superior speed finally ,and Stone. Mcvillan On the second lap Riley did not win a race he turned told on the back straight as Fabi made : i bold bid to pass in a more consistent effort and held the inside line Fabi, but the little Italian this season for his second the 3.5km track lo around the hairpin to regain made it quite clear that he place in the championship. set the fastest lime, 71.0! the lead. Meanwhile Wood did not want to be overseconds, 0.2s outside Lady Wigram Trophy.-Heat just had spun out on Club, his taken and Riley eventually one: I). McMillan IN.Z., Cltizen Keke Rosberg's lap record car having bent suspension, dropped back a little. Nashua 20mln 34.6sec pipping Fabi for pole the legacy of the altercation On lap three Elgh dropped field March 78/791, 28.48.7, elapsed, 1: T. Balt) Fabi daly, Win. tion for the first time in the with John Smith. contention with Perkins (Australia, Wynns March 7713), 28.52.0, H Riley (U.K McMillan kept the lead for high-speed spin at Rentokit March 77B), 28.52.2, March the rest of the race, streak- four Fabi started K. Smith IN.Z., Travelodge March alongside him ing down the main 76B1. 29:05.8. 5: A. Wight ‹Sweden with a 71.1s lap, and on the Marloro March 782B). 29:14.3. f putting pressure on Perkins. No other finishers. Fastest lap, with a slight tail-wind. His He sped up alongside the MeAlillan. I:10.7 (record. Tient havıngicar had the rdge over Fabi's Australian's car on the back two: Meltillan, 28:40.8. 1; J'abi, top-end futuristic March. and over- straight but Perkins 28:51.6, 2; Riley, 28:57.6, 3: Smill (Australia, Rat), 29:00.4. power, and Riley (71.9%). heating problems late and just held him off 4: K. Smith, 29:02.0, 5; J. Wond On the third adding to the Hallan's wor- through the hairpin. (U.S.. March 78B), 29:17.5, 6; Eigh, Australian, ries. For the next six laps Fabi 29:32.5. 7: S Millen (N.Z.. Mat- John Smih (Ralt) and By lap 11 MrMillan had a slipstreamed Perkins tini Hertz Chevron B42), 29:42.7, 8: 11. Owen (N./., Ralty. 28:56.3, veteran Aucklander, Ken 3s lead over labi, and Per- down the long main straight 9: No other finishers, Fastest lap, (Travelodge March), kins was still trying desper- and repealed this manoeuvre Fabi: 1:10.9 and behind thein were theately i keep out the per-until on lap seven he felt he Riley 154, Perkins 132, Eigh and Final series points.-abt 16 voung American, Jeff Wood|sistent Riley. Ken Smith had could get past. He held the Merman 11i8. J. Wood 98, J. (March. 78B) and Eigh. moved sicadily up throughlinside line going into the'Smita s6, Millen G1, K. Smlch_58.