26-9-89 Dymand The expatriate Christchurch sports sedan driver, Steve Dymand, says that he is thrilled to be back in New Zealand and is enjoying his races in spite of the acrimony which has surrounded the entry of his car, an IMSA Corvette, in the Hanseils Sun Valley Sports sedan series. Dymand says that the majority of protests againsi his car were launched by an individual purporting to represent the views of the Sports Sedan Association. He says he is now in possession of a letter from the association indicating that this is not the case and he points out that the protests were rejected by M.A.N.Z. and the aims for Wigram individual's protest fees were not returned. Dymand said the comradeship among the top drivers had been excellent and the racing first Class. If the differences in the interpretation of the rules are satisiactorily resoived he will return with two cars next season, following his intended Amencan campaign, and possibly bring some American drivers. After leaving Christchurch in 1979 for California, Dymand set up his nighly successful Koala Springs company which produces fruit flavoured mineral water. This has allowed bim to finance his motor racing, in which be has always retained an in- terest. Dymand relates the pressures involved during the racing series to those involved in business and said that after a seven-year lay-off from the sport, he was regaining the fine edge in his race driving and after two wins at Manfeild last weekend, he is hopeful of a good run at Wigram this week-end. Although Dymand said that two or three other cars contesting the series had a straight line speed advantage over his car, he believes the Corvette's superb handling and braking characteristics will shine at Wigram. Most of all though, he is concerned that the contro success versy surrounding his car has overshadowed some fine petformances by ober competi tors during the series, bach as those by Keiran Wits, who won four races straight off in Hurord set cars so credible his elderly Capri and got reaped the credit Dymand said that his crew were initially unsettled by the protests and having officials and others constantly looking over their shoulders to take measurements on the car, but they have hopefully now put that behind them and will be able to get on with the racing in the remaining rounds at Wigram and Timart. e HIRO MATSUSHITA Driver Dwayne FETER - JACKSON anasonic. adar. Whee Members of the Panasonic team, from left, Steve Little, Steve Sandstrom, and Dwayne Anderson, work on the DB4 in which the Japanese driver Hiro Matsushita will contest this week-end's Lady Wigram Trophy Race. Challenge from Japanese A new challenge to the established order of American and New Zealand drivers has emerged during this season's Peter Jackson Formula Pacific series. Two Japanese drivers are contesting the series, Hino Matsushita, and Kenji Mamota. Both have immediately proven competitive with the more experienced Matsushita, aged 27, gaining second place in the prestigious New Zealand Grand Prix Matsushita's team, Dwayne Anderson Racing, arrived in Christchurch yesterday prepare for Sunday's Benson and Hedges International meeting at Wigram, and carries backing from Matsushita's family business - the giant Panasonic concern. Matsushita's background in Japanese motor sport is in sealed rallying and motorcycle racing, but his success in single sectors has been in the United States, where a seventh place in the national Formula Ford championship was followed by a third in last year's American West Formula Atlantic series. The Panasonic team, has close links with the Swift racing car constructor, as the team's. organiser, Мигтау McLaren, formerly or Ashburton, has worked on developing the cars with their designer, Dave Bruns In spite of this association, McLaren says that his team's car has no development advantages over other Swifts contesting the Peter Jackson series. Although Matsushita, who has only a limited command of English, has been plagued with a flu virus during the series, he has acquitted himself admirably to date and has gained considerable experience toward his eventual goal of competing at Indianapolis with a new car which Swift will construct in the next two or three seasons. Meanwhile, the team Is concentrating on Sunday's meeting at Wigram, where McLaren is confident evolving i very competitive race set up for their driver, who usually shines on fast circuits.