14-9-80 1gra] m in new car raci 1g ser les Christehureh is expected to host one of international motor racing championship for The series, which the Then the competitors are Federation Internationale scheduled to move to New de l'Automobile is giving Zealand for the New Zeafull championship status, land Grand Prix at will consist of two rounds in Pukekohe on January_10 New Zealand, two in Aus- and the Lady Wigram Trotralia, and one in Macau. phy race on January 25. Japan and Malaysia are before returning to Austra expected to host races in lia for the final round at the the 1981-82 series. Calder track. near Melbourne. on February 8. The series is designed to bring the Pacific basin Granted countries closer in the sport, according to the Con- "We have applied for, federation of Australian and been granted, a round." Motor Sports president (Mr the Wigram organiser (Mr John Roxburgh), who George Begg) confirmed announced the champion- today. ship today. "However, it will need a Macau will host the first lot of water under the race on November 16, and bridge before everything is Perth the second on Decem- finalised." ber 8. He confirmed Pukekone the two New Zealand rounds in a three-nation • Formula Pacifie cars this summer.::: and Wigram would be the New Zealand venues if the series got off the ground. "However, we want to know what the financial arrangements are. "They look pretty steep, and this has got to be sorted out. And if Japan. and Malaysia are not involved this season, it will probably be even more difficult." Mir Roxburgh said track promoters would be putting up $10,000 in prizemoney, for each race, as well as fund for cars and drivers.! contributing to a transport The new championship will fill the void left when the Tasman international series for Formula One cars faded away several years ago. Formula Pacific cars are cheaper to buy and race than Formula One machinery as they use modified production motors in their pure racing chassis. Hopes High hopes are held for the series and it is expected to expand rapidly • when races are staged in Japan and Malaysia. It is planned ultimately to start the series in Japan and bring it down through Macau. Malaysia and intu Australia and New Zealand Like New Zealand, Japan has its own domestic Formula Pacific championship. It is not known whether any European teams will be coming for this year's races, although discussions are believed to have been held with the British March team. March is the largest racing car constructor in the world and last year it sent two works Pacitic cars to New Zealand for the summer season. 19-19-80 Axe falls on the W igr races The historie Lady Wigram Tropby motor race, scheduled as one of the two New Zealand rounds in the Pacifie Basin international championship series, will not be held this season. The race on the airbase circuit has been an annual highlight of Christchurch sport for more than 30 years. Mr Donald McKay, president of the Motor Racing Club, the meeting promoter, announced the cancellation of the race-due to be run on January 24- 25-today. "But we'll be back the following year," he said. A series of factors led to the decision, which the club bad put off for some time. The race 'had not attracted the really good entries the club was hoping for to mase a good presentation for the public. Conflict And although the Wigram race had its spot on the calendar for many years, there were now some conflicting events, said Mr Mekay. The race was to be the penultimate meeting in the new Pacific Basin series for Formula Pacific cars, and its cancellation means the oniy New Lealand round wili be the grand prix at Pukekohe on January 10. Many motor racing officials hoped the Pacific series-run in Japan, Macau, New Zealand and Australia-would give the sport a lift here. However, it appears the European teams are not interested in sending cars to New Zealand for just two international races. The first was run in 1949. and it has been run every year since. In the early 1950s it became an international event; top line drivers like Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and Jack Brabham appeared in it over the years while more recently up-and-coming Formula One drivers Keke Rosberg and Teo Fabi made their names here. The row in Europe between the car contructors' group and FIA, the sport's governing body, had made pianning for wigram more said McKay. It had affected sponsors, and left people fence sitting-in Europe. The cancellation would disappoint a lot of New Zealand drivers, he said. The circuit was one of the fastest and safest in New Zealand. Boost Mr McKay said the Pacific series could boost the sport, and the vote on cancelling the race had been close. There was "not very much hope" of the decision being reversea, although the club holds its annual meeting next week. 100 few entries of a high standard from overseas had been received to put on a good race for the public. After a small profit last year, the Wigram race finished "down a bit" this has never missed a mebo never missed a meeting.