15-1-86 32 THE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1986. 22-04.3 IOA vori The imp The Lady Wigram Trophy race meeting has long been a Christchurch tradition. Although in recent years changing trends in international motor racing have meant that most of the drivers competing in the trophy race are no longer household names, the pre sent day participants are no less hungry for success than their illustrious predeces SOIS. Whereas many of the international drivers who irequented the New Zealand circuits in the hey-day of the Tasman Formula treated the series as some thing of a sojourn in the sun, Sunday's competitors will be eager to capitilise on the present paucity of international events in the northern hemisphere, when there is space to spare in the columns of the specialist motoring publications. During this part of the year, the off-season in both Europe and the United States, it is likely that team managers and perhaps more importantly in this commercial age, prospective spon- ortance o sors, may cast their eyes on the results of our international series. A victory in Sunday's trophy race could mean the beginning of a favourable impression. International motor-sport is being purposely struetured more toward a ladder system whereby, ideally, a driver with world championship Formula One aspirations can - finance and driving ability permitting climb each rung to success. Kart racing and Formula Ford have provided an excellent nursery for today's top drivers, here a young driver can learn the carcontrol skills with open-wheel motor sport. The competitors in the Formula ford races at Sunday's Wigram meeting are an example of this. From here, a driver wishing to make a motor sport career, must _ progress, ideally via Formula 3 where competitors sometimes get the chance to compete on the same bill as the predominant Formula One cars, thereby getting chance to attract the attention of the ever watchful Formula One team managers. An alternative to Formula 3 - and this could perhaps be considered ‚parallel rung on the ladder •- is Formua Pacific in New Zealand and Australia, or Formula Super Vee in the United States. A disadvantage to a driver seeking this alternative is New Zealand's remoteness from Europe, which could be considered the hub of the motor sport i universe. / A New Zealand hopeful would attract more positive TROPHY MEETING SUNDAY JANUARY 19,1986 f victory Chch driver attention by gaining a string of impressive results in the to appear in British Formula 3 series, as 'Paul Radisich hopes to do in 1986. From Formula 3, an exceptional driver cam then Formula Pacific aim for a season of Formula 3000, which replaces the old Formula 2, and is in During the early years of Crawford is running on fact a Formula 2 in all but the Trophy Race, local com- what is perhaps the smallname. petitors made up the major- est budget of all series These cars are the nest ity of the field driving 1 competitors, and it quickly and penultimate step on the sports cars and became apparent at the mainly ladder to Formula One, and home-built Speciais. Since North Island rounds that his they provide an opportunity the advent of the Formula bome-built engine lacked fcr drivers to get used to Pacific class, however, considerable power when handling considerably more Christchurch representa- compared to most of his ower than is available in tives have been few and far competitors. Formula 3 or Formula between. In light of the financial Pacific cars. On Sunday, spectators situation and with an eye on performing well his Having proven himself in at theoreti- will have a Christchurch home track, Wigram, Formula 3000, our Crawford made the decision cal driver - marketability ABOVE: Although David Oxton, pietured driving a Rait, has moved on to saloon car racing, New driver to cheer as the New Zealand Formula Ford to return home and to pre. permitting - will be ready Zealand will be strongly represented in the trophy race by Ken Smith, Paul Radisich and Brett Riley. to move into the big league champion, John Crawford, pare for the Wigram meetof Formula One racing. BELOW: Sunday's Phillip Mills Luxury Cars Lady Wigram Trophy Race is expected to produce close makes his first appearance insinhe car handled and racing similar to his battle between Peter Haskett and Charlie O'Brien, which was feature of the at the wheel of a Formula It will be noted that no 1984 event. braked mell and I drove Pacific in front of his home mention has been made carefully to avoid damaging crowd. here of saloon car classes. Although a quick glance the car. The only trouble New Zealand's long pre- at the programme will was that me were being occupation with saloon cars reveal that Crawford will blown away on the straights can, in many ways, so I returned home to try. be at the wheel of a Dart counted responsible for the rather than a Ralt, as used and get some more horse doarth of New Zealand tal- of swer from cir ore engine ent now felt on the inter- by majority The only trouble is it's hard rivals. his car is. in fact national scene. more of a Ralt than a Dart. to baild a powerful engine Although there seems The chassis has heen with no money," said Crawscant chance of Formula leased from Crawford's , ford One drivers ever returning mentor, Dave MoMillan, of Aged 26, Crawford is at a to Wigram when a racing Auckland. and a lot of time crucial stage of his career. and testing programme has been spent making sure At the other end of the scale fully occupies the calendar there has been no repeat of is McMillan who, with many patrons of past earlier problems that were successes behind him inyear, a victory in the Wigram meetings can claim apparent with the tub when cluding to have witnessed such as it appeared in McMillan's United States championship, take the hands. could he considered to be in • Reke Rosberg formative steps of their the twilight rears of his motor racing careers at the The running gear includ- single seater career. ing suspension is mostly Although now living in airfield circuit. Ralt and Crawford found Auckland, McMillan was Will we be viewing an- that the car was the equal born in Christchurch and other future world cham- of the Ralts in the handling raised on the Wigram Air 'pion among the contestants denartment during the first Base, so he has nostalgic at Wigram on Sunday? two mounds of the inter- reasons for wishing to do national series at Bay Park well on Sunday. A past and Pukekobe. winner here, be showd not be discounted and always goes well on fast tracks.