Youngest driver wins La Wigram By JOHN HAWKINS The rising star narrowly defeated the oid master at Ruapuna yesterday when Craig Baird won both beats of the Peter Jackson series from Ken Smith, including the Lady Wigram Trophy. Baird, aged 19, of famiiton, won both races by under one second and is belleved to be the youngest driver to have won the prestigious trophy. He held out under intense pressure from Smith and the unlucky New Zealand international, Paul Radisich. For much of the 50-lap trophy race Baird ran at the head of a three-car car train from Radisich and Smith. At half distance mechanicai failure struck Radisich. His Reynard Toyota cruised to a halt at the bairpin, a victim of ignition failure, similar to that which sidelined the car at Manfeild. Smith then tried every move to unseat Baird, but the youngster, who later said the race was the hardest of his life. left no gaps. Much further back the American, Robbie Groff. 100k third place. the only other unlapped driver. Fourth was just reward for the Aucklander, lan MacDonald, formerly of Christchurch, while Dean Cockerton, also of Auckland, fought hard to eventually pass Paimerston North's Richard Lester and finish fifth. The opening beat, over 25 laps, provided Baird with his first win of the series. Once again starting from pole position Baird made the most of four warm-up laps to shoot out a fast starting Radisich at the hairpin. The Swift Fords of Baird and Smith sandwiched Radisich's Reynard for 12 laps as the three ran as if tied by a string. Radisich, trying hard to usurp Baird, clipped the wail at the hairpin and spun. Smith did well to avoid Radisich and closed the gap again to Baird bui Baird made good use of backmarkers to retain his place while Radisich recovered to place fourth behind Groff. Baird said later that the win was like "breaking the ice" for him and took the pressure off in a similar manner to his first win in Formula Ford. Kieran Wills proved a surprisingly easy winner of both heats of the Hansells Sun Valley Thundersaloon championship. Wilis was pursued mutally by Rodger Freeth's Starlet VS in the first heat but the former dy Trophy motorcycle champion was forced to retire on lap four in a cloud of smoke caused by an oil leak. Wills was then unchallenged at the front but Brett Willis, of Rotorua, turned in his best drive of the series to pass the cational champion, Wayne Huxford, and claim second position. Wills was again a comfortable winner of the second race with Kayne Scott, who started the earlier race from behind the field in his Nissan turbo, holding off a challenge from Freeth to take second. Paul Larsen continued his unbeaten run in the Motorcraft Formula Ford series, comfortably winning both heats from Mark Pedersen. The expected threat to Larsen's superiority from Pedersen did not eventuate, but the opening beat was notable for a lengthy fivecar battie which was eventually decided in favour of the Australian. Martin Carpenter. The opening race of the two Castrol Group N encounters saw David Slater shadowed all the way by the similar Ford Laser turbo of Lou Vandermeer. The entertainment in this race was provided by Lloyd Owen who attempted to fight his way through the field after starting at the back. In the second race Owen made a lightning start and led for the first lap, but was soon demoted by Slater who eventually ran out an easy winner ahead of Vandermeer. Angus Fogg, of Hastings, surprised his South Island opposition by taking a 2½ second win from Avon Hyde in the opening heat of the Agip Oils Mini 7s. Hyde and Peter Black became embroiled in a hectic battle which enabled Fogg to make the break. Fogg lost all chance of a repeat performance in the second race when he tangled with Doug Drake in the first S bend. Black and Hyde raced wheel to wheel with the former eventually gaining the verdict. Fogg carved through the field well to place third. Jim Little's experience told in the Ray Parke Autos Pre 65 class as he won both races in his Valiant ahead of Paul Roffey's Chevrolet and Chris Blackwood's Falcon. The Peter Jackson series concludes at the Levels circuit near Timaru next week-end. Points after Wigram: Smith, 122: Baird. 112; Radisich. 73; Lester. 65; Groff, 61: Thomlinson, - a Motorcrafte Tond BAIRD / EPTER ACKSON SEe Craig Baird, of Hamilton, holds his line from Ken Smith, of Auckland, going into the hairpin at Ruapuna raceway. Baird won the Lady -Photograph by JohN COSGROVE Wigram Trophy race from Smith by under one second.