30-1-87 American rivals in the news • Jeff MacPherson ? Ted Prappas • Wigram Trophy race, has secured a drive Jeff stacherson she won the 1986 te premier category of American racing, CART: Ted Prappas, his close rival in New Zealand last Ted Prappas, his close rival in New Zealand last yeat has won the west Coast ai America formula, Atlantic championship. MacPherson, who contested the 1986 European Formula 3000 series with limited suecess retarmed: to the U.S. at the end of last season for one off-dril ín a CART car. But that ended in disaster. crasned and spent the next month recorering." Prappas, meanwhile, is endeavouring to capitalise on his success and his manager. Alan 'Me Caul, is seeking a European Formula 3000 drive for him: 20-3-87 Sports sedan repeat for Wigram meeting A 30 per cent increase in crowd attendance at this year's Lady Wigram Trepay race meeting bas prompted the organisers to start early on planning for the 1988 meeting with & view to repeating the festure attraction, an Ans- tralia versus New Zealand sports sedan test series. The president of the Motor Racing Club. Mr Donald McKay, said the increased attendance was clearly attributable to the staging of the one-off venture "Next year we are proposing to bring five Australian sports sedar drivers over for our meeting the same as this year. However, to make the venture really worthwhile, not only for the race-going public but for us as organisers, we have held discussions with the South Canterbury Car Club with a view to the Australians and a local team racing on their track one week after Wigram," he said. The inaugural races resulted in the Australian team winning by 80 points to 65. What the crowd will remember more, however is the tense battle for the lead between a leading New Zealand driver, Trevor Crowe, in his 4.5 litre Toyota Starlet, and sydney driver Bob Tindall in a six litre Holden Torana. Crowe won both races, but only after the lead had changed several times. In the first outing Crowe's winning margin was only 0.05sec and in the second 0.21sec. Promise "We promised the crowd a real transtasman test and that is what was delivered." Mr McKay said "In the past we have been let down badly. particularly in respect of the formula Pacific series. "We have been promised so many drivers for these eries, but invariably not all turn up. As a result our credibility has been sagg- Ing. "We are sick of this the time has come to do our own thing and take the initiative before one of our northern counterparts does it." Pacific series boost planned A group of prominent motor racing figures sick of the continuing decline ir New Zealand' annual international formula Pacific series is launching a project so ensure the series moves from the bottom of the motorsport popularity poil. In association with Global Promotions, noted New Zealand racing driver Ken Smith and a former topline racer Graeme Lawrence have called on the assistance of the four track promoters to assist the project. Convinced that the Grand Prix Association, historically the organiser of the series, is out of touch. Smith and Lawrence have raised a travel fund and will campaign • - largely in the United States - to bring more drivers to these shores. Overdue Mr Donald McKay, president of the Motor Racing which traditionally organises a round of the series at Wigram, said the concept was a good one and well overdue. "I don't think the grand prix office is particularly pleased with it, but we in Christchurch can only Smith (left) and Lawrence :.. campaign for drivers. applaud the actions of Smith and Lawrence. "They propose to run four cars between them and they want to return to fields similar to 2u years ago when 20 cars used to take to the grid." Mr McKay said. "I think. too. that the coordination of the series by Global Promotions is also conditions. in keeping with today's The promotions company is neaded by Lawrence's brother Brian, a part-time motor-sport broadcaster. While Smith and Lawrence should be encouraged in their task, it is to be hoped they will not forget to do their homework within New Zealand. Li a field of 20 cars is to take to the grid. young New Zealand drivers must be given the opportunity of footing it with some of the bright young stars from the United States and Australia. The likes of Craig Coleman, Andy McElrea, John Crawford and Shane Higgins are potentially as good as anybody, but their efforts to venture beytind formula Ford have been for the most part fraught with difficulty.