28-12 - 82 Moreno favoured, but doubtful, for By PETER GREENSLADE Five drivers from the Americas, another five from Australia and one from West Germany will join about the same number of New Zealanders to contest the fourround Formula Pacific international motor racing series next month. The favourite, if he returns, is likely to be the Brazilian, Roberto Moreno, aged 23, who was the star turn in last January's international series in a Ralt RT4. Moreno, who will again be in a Siddle RT4, took the last series with 60 points to the 51 and 38 of David Oxton and Steve Millen. respectively. These two New Zealanders are unlikely to be racing next month. However. Moreno may not be back for the series, or to defend his New Zealand international Grand Prix title, at Pukekohe on January : 8. reports the Press Association from Auckland. His manager, an Australian. Greg Siddle, is having trouble finding enough sponsorship to bring Moreno to New Zealand Heading the trio from the United States will be Mike Rosen. aged 24. He raced somewhat inertectually in the last series, however, the experience gained under the watchful eyes of the Aucklander. Dave McMillan, the North American Formula Atlantic champion. has evidently stood him in good stead The McMillan team. in which Rosen will again be racing. is predicting that the young American will be among the front runners in 1983. The other United States ROBERTO MORENO drivers are Norman Hunter. aged 21, a Californian. who gave McMillan a run for the money in North America this year. and who has already raced in a national meeting at Pukekohe this month. and Hubert Phipps. aged 25, from Palm Beach, Florida. Hunter, like most of the other entrants, will race a Ralt RT4, but Phipps will drive a newcomer to New Zealand. a British-built Tiga. The first Canadian to contest a New Zealand Formula Pacifie series will be Allan Berg, from Calgary. Berg Will drive a Rait R14 owned by Graeme Lawrence. who will manage the Canadian's series bid. The sole European entrant will be Christian Danner, aged 24. a West German who drives a March-BMW regularly in the European Formula 2 series. He will drive a Ralt RT4 here. The five Australian visitors have all raced in New Zealand previously and will series all drive Ralts. They are John Smith, Robert Handford, Charlie O'Brien. Bruce Allison. and an expatriate New Zealander, Graham watson. New Zealand representatives include McMillan, the local most likely to succeed, the veteran Ken Smith. the Henderson youngster, Paul Radisich, and several lowerranked top league drivers, such as Steve Cameron, Eric Morgan. Grant Campbell, Bryan Hartley, and the South Island's sole Formula Pacific representative, Tony Bachelor of Christchurch This series is being sponsored by the New Zealand: Apple and Pear Marketing Board. As two of the races. the Grand Prix at Pukekohe. and the international at Manfeild on January 16, are rounds in Mondia! world championship. for 1.6-litre Atlantic and Pacific racers, the strength of the fields at Bay Park, Mount Maunganui, on January 2. and at Wigram on January 23. remains to be seen. If Moreno arrives, he will probably race at Pukedohe and Mantelid. as he is very much in contention in the Mondial championship. He will no doubt! want to conserve his car for! the two final rounds in that: series. in Melbourne and Adelaide in rebruary. Although the absence of highly professional entrants! from the United Kingdom will be a source of disappointment for some of the local motor racing purists,! the support from America and Australia should augur well for the future of Formula Pacific, which now enjoys world championship status.