24-1-81 DRIVING AMBITION REVS THROUGH $ CHAMPION 205 742 Newin TOUrS Rasing Eight years ago New Zealander Rob Wilson arrived in England penniless, seeking a career in motor racing. He had never driven a racing cas, but he knew that was what he wanted to do. He played a guitar in London pubs to raise money for a drive. Today he still uses his guitar to raise money from time to time, but has moved up into the British F3 class, and is aiming for a F2 drive on his return. He is in Christchurch for tomorrow's Wigram Formula Pacific race.. He says of his time in Britain: "After three years I had still not made enough money to race." In 1975 he went to the at which got him into the seat of a Formula Ford for six races. Ultimately he was offered sponsorship for FF drive in New Zealand. and came second in the championship. behind Dave McMillan. SPONSOR "I had just enough money for my fare. and when arrived back in England had just $ô in my pocket. said Mr Wilson. But he soon found sponsorship in the shape of New Zealander Tom Ciark, a well known pottery manufacturer. Later he was involved with New Zealander Howden Ganley and Australian Tim Schenken. who were building the TIGA FF. "I was given a car, but demolished it in the first race." he recalls. He was badly injured and spent a month in hospital. "It was a bit of a blow. but the car was re-built." "I am obsessed with motor racing. so there was never any thought of giving it up." In 1976 he won the Bruce Colim Bryant talks to the Kiwi who plays for his passion McLaren trophy for tbe most promising Commonwealth driver, which has also been won by cur- • rent worid champion Alan Jones. Next year he was given a Formula Ford 2000 Tiga by. Englishman Adrian Reynard, and won first time out. But the clamber to the top was lar trom easy. "I wrote off a Rait three times in accidents in 1978, but still came fourth in the championship." said Mr Wilson. Then it was to a March car, which "broke down every two races." Financially. Rob Wilson was only just scraping a living. although he made . $15.000 in sponsorship. It mostly went back into running the car. Wilson came fifth in the British F3 championship, with two firsts, four seconds and four thirds in the series. But in spite of this success he was still ретmanently broke financially. "You have to be in Formula One before you can make a lot of money, but I still have my guitar when i am a bit short, " he grinned.