10-1-91 11-9-91 Come on feel the noise. VPETER JACKSON PETER JACKSON PETER JACKSON INTERNATIONAL SERIES FEATURING TOP OVERSEAS DRIVERS See top drivers from around the world clash in one great New Zealand for decades, fight for the coveted series title weekend of family entertainment. And don't miss the roar of the Hansell's Sun Valley At the Peter Jackson International Motor Racing Series Ruapuna Park, Christchurch, 12/13 January. Tranzam Cars and the D x Autocolor Saloon C The Peter Jackson International Motor Racing Serie Be there as the best field of drivers ever assembled in Come and feel it. GATES OPEN: 7 am both days. ACTION STARTS: 9.30 am Saturday, 10 am Sunday. ADMISSION: Weekend entry; Adults Premium $22, Standard $18, Children (8-14) $7, Family Premium $42, Standard $36 (2 adufts-2 children), Car parking $2. DISCOUNT tickets available from: lam Toyota, 247 Riccarton Road, Christchurch, Phone (03) 343-0009. Full licensed refreshment facilities available at the circuit. 93H1 ©Dulux •......" Autocoto FOOD YEAR SUN VALLEY Shell TOYOTA DOB Watn Baird retain 'HILE the running of last W season's Lady Wigram Tro- phy meeting provided a land mark in the history of the famous race, being the first time a true international car race meeting had been held at Ruapuna, it also marked the turning point in the career of the race winner, Craig Baird. Before the Ruapuna meeting Baird had been struggling to establish himself against Ken Smith and Paul Radisich, and be said aiter winning the preliminary race that he felt that he had "broken the ice" and that the pressure had been lifted. Subsequent races, including a foray to America, bas served on to strengthen his maturity as a race driver to the point that he returns to Ruapuna this weekend for the third round of the Peter Jackson international series as a firm favourite to retain the prestigious Lady Wigram Trophy. Baird, aged 20, has proven that he has both speed and the ability to soak up pressure. While Smith quickly closed on his younger rival at Levels last weekend he never looked like forcing him to make a mistake. Like Levels, Ruapuna is notoriously hard to pass on. While there has been talk of barging and the like, in an effort to find a way past, it is unthinkable that two drivers of this calibre would resort to stock car tactics. Herein lies Bairds advantage, it favoured to racing By JOHN HAWKINS trueliri CRAIG BAIRD seems he is unequalled in the ability to turn in a single qualifying lap and will surely start from pole position. The strongest weapon in his armoury is his ability to drive at ten tenths right from the start, using his quick reflexes to control the car at the limit. By the time most of his rivals build to race pace Baird usually has a sizeable advantage. Radisich's Reynard is still new title and while he was pleased with progress on development of the car during the second heat at Levels, a disastrous fire at Levels may have hindered development. Mark Smith, of the United States, seems to be the only other driver in the field with the potential package to match the top trio, but he will have to realise this potential at Ruapuna if he is to have any chance in the final championship standings. In the Tranzam class records are certain to fall as Kayne Scott gives his new Ford Sierra its debut at the circuit. The present champion, Kieran Wills produced a brave drive to give Scott his only defeat of the season to date at Levels last weekend, but while he is confident that his Mazda RX8 is well suited to the Ruapuna layout he has already resigned himself to building a new car for next season in order to be truly competitive with the American built car in the Sun Valley series. Rodger Freeth faces a near impossible task, given that his CRC2 lacks the power of the top two contenders, and may well be hard pressed to head off the Oldsmobile Cutlass of Don Grindley on the Christchurch driver's home circuit. In the Formula Ford class Andy McElrea, of Christchurch, has produced some brilliant drives in the Teretonga and Levels rounds, but there are signs that as other drivers, particularly Englishman Jonathan Harmer, become more familiar with their new cars that McElreas advantage will be eroded.