26-1-80 Successful ch Chevron to Ralt Penfolds, - the winemakers, are sponsoring Steve Millen for the Formula Pacific series this year. Millen will drive a Chardon Ralt RT 1. In true sponsorship style, the deal was announced in a sensational manner, with the racing car on top of tonnes of ice in an Auckland hotel. "Chardon" is the name of a new wine from Penfolds. Millen has raced Chevrons for five years, but he now says the cars are uncompetitive. "I spent most of the year tollowing • European and American championship results, and after Ralts won the American Formula Atlantic championship, the British championship and the Macao Grand Prix, my choice of car was obvious," he said. in his first test session, Millen lapped faster in the first few laps than he had ever gone in the Chevron. - Millen is best known as the 1977. South-East Asia champion, and one of the top New zealanders in the International Series over the past three years. He is a very versatile driver, having won races in single-seaters, saloon cars, rally cars, rallycross cars, and speedway midgets. The 29-year-old Auck- Jander is a professional driver from Auckland, who started his career in hillclimb and sprints more than 10 years ago. His first single-seater dnve was in a Formula Ford at the 1973 Singapore Grand Prix, where he won his class. He then went into a Formula 2 Chevron, and took first in class in the 1975 Stuyvesant Series. Villen has come second the now-defunct Heatway Rally, and won the South Pacific Saloon Car Championship. The Ralt he will be driving is one of the fastest and most reliable racing cars of its class in the world, even though it does look a bit chunky. The car is deceptively efficient aerodynamically and very fast along the straights. To obtain even better aerodynamics, the team has developed sidepods. They are bolted to each side of the car and result in a greater downforce, giving more stability at high speeds. ange for Millen from Chardon The "Chardon" Ralt on the track.