23-9-80 for all the fomi ly. Pl is drags ers, ol The lady is one of the world's fastest - Nobody ever thought it would happen when motor racing started at Wigram more than 30 years ago, but it has. A woman has been entered for the Formula Pacific series. Desire Wilson, a 26-year-. old South African, now living in England, has been compared with the legendary Pat Moss for her motorng prowess. She is said to be the fastest woman racing driver in the world. When not racing, Mrs Wilson administers. the Brands Hatch racing school. In New Zealand, she will race a Nashua-sponsored March 77B, Which was raced with great success by Arstralian driver Larry Perkins in 1978 and 1979. Highüghts of Mrs Wilson's career include a Driver to Europe award in 1977; winner of Formula Ford championship in South Airca in 1976; South African sportswoman of the year in 1978; Newsmaker of the year in the same year, and a Guild of Writers merit award. In her first season of Formula 1 racing in the UK, Mrs Wilson took four third placings, two fourths and two fifths. She has been a big crowd-puller overseas, and the promoters hope to get the same spin-off here. The New. Zealand promoters have tried for several years to attract the attractive young lady here, but until now she has been tied to a contract to race in Britain. Motor racing is nothing new for Mrs Wilson. At the age of five she was driving micro-midgets built by her father, and in her first years NZ dr team The works Narch team from England has two former kart racers in its Formula Pacific team this year. One is a New Zealander, Mike Thackwell, and the other is Italian, Andrea de Cesaris. Both drivers have been front runners in the Bntish Formula 3 during last year, winning six races each. Thackwell, NOW domiciled in Britain, has been tipped there as a future world champion, and probably the youngest. Emerson Fittipaldi made it at 24, but Thackwell is only 18, and already poised for a Formula 2 drive after the New Zealand series. Thackwell was born in Auckland, but like so many keen drivers before him, had to move to England to get into motor racing proper. In fact, he has done all his serious racing overseas. With our shortage of Desire Wilson races, lack of sponsorship, poor attendances, and of competition won several Vee championship for three shaky finances, there is litprovincial championships. years in succession, finish- tle opportunity for budding At 12, the young racer ing fourth in 1973 and drivers here. second the following year. An enthusiastic amateur retired' to concentrate on She has also raced For- in Britain can start off at a horses and athletics. About mula Atlantic, Formula driving school, taking lesseven years later she returned to motor sport. Ford 2000, Mini Indy in the Mrs Wilson took part in USA, and Formula One the South African Formula March and Ensign cars. Is acro Iver in Mike Thackwell sons as he can afford them. When he improves, he can gradually move up into a reserve team, a full team, and ultimately get sponsorship. And until he has the money, he can rent a car. De Cesaris is also young at 21, and with Thackwell will make a very competi- • tive team. Last year the March cars won championship, when the tiny italian Teo Fabi took six straight wins and qualified on the front row for every race. Announcing the line-up for this year, managing director Robin Herd said the New: Zealand series had become more significant in oatics March Andrea de Cesaris recent years. "The prestige has grown steadily and we now see it as a chance to develop our young, up-and-coming drivers. "Andrea and Mike should be a tough combination Everyone in Europe will be following the New Zealand racing closely," he said. The March team will again be managed by former "Star" reporter Murray Taylor. Works mechanics Paul Crosby and Wiif Oppliger will prepare the cars. And Aucklander Tom Hooker will maintain the team's Brian Hart Ford BDA engines.