2-92 13-3-92 18-7-92 Wigram's future still Wigram back but for how long? News that the Government is to close down Wigram Air Base to flying activities has sent shock waves through the local motor racing fraternity. after 43 years, life just wouldn't be the same without the annual pilgrimage to Wigram. Motor sport buffs had to endure a two-year stint away from the famed circuit, at Ruapuna, while the runways were resealed. But when this year's meeting was neid with stiff competition for media attention from the cricket test at Lancaster Park - and had a Sunday crowd of around 3000 - the Lady Wigram Trophy race still attracted 10.000. Some of the great names of world motor racing have visited Wigram over the years. The names of Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Jimmy Clark, Bruce McLaren and Graham Hill have all been inscribed as winners. while Stirling Moss and New Zealand's only asks Lindsay Kerr world champion, Denny Hulme, have been runners- up. The schedule facing drivers at the top level these days prevents them having holidays Down Under during the northern winter, but in their places come a line of hopefuls keen to make it into the top league. In recent years, they've mostly been Americans, but this year the premier single seater class had three English drivers in its field. One of that number was Harry Nuttall, not really a name for a racing driver you might think, but Nuttal! is very serious about his racing.He came to New Zealand with less credentials than team-mate Julian Westwood, but was here to learn. Wigram therefore was part of that learning curve. "I have never driven a car so fast before," said Nuttall. "It is a bit like the Thruxton circuit back home where the HARRY NUTTALL here to learn corners are not obvious, but at least they have some markings for the corners here. "Coming round the hanger buildings was unbelievable, nothing really to speak of between you and the buildings, and very bumpy. Great stuff. Andthe names on that trophy: you couldn't help but be impressed. But what struck me was that it is a long time since a Brit has won it." A Brit almost did win the Lady Wigram Trophy this year, Westwood coming in just .36sec behind New Zealand driver Craig Baird. Harry Nuttall was fifth. unsettled By DAVE WILSON The future of RNZAF Base Wigram could be known within the next two months when the air force is expected to announce the outcome of investigations into moving the Flying Training Wing. In the wake of Budget cuts last year it was announced that all flying training at Wigram would be moved within three years, either to another RNZAF base or 10 Australia. The tentative timetable estimated that all flying operations would be moved from Wigram by 1994 and the airfield then closed. On that basis public events such as last weekend's "Wings and Wheels" pageant, which attracted 10,000 people, would end, or at least mean the end of the flying component. The New Zealand Defence Force has estimated that the loss of flying at Wigram would remove $13 million a year from the Canterbury economy. Around 400 jobs at Wigram would be affected by removing the flying training operations. Also affected by the plan would be the air ambulance services operated by the Friendship navigation trainers and the search and rescue facility offered by the Iroquois helicopters. The move is expected to save the NZDF $4.8 million a year. Over-all the force has been ordered to cut its spending, at present 1.8 per cent of the gross domestic product, to 1.6 per cent by 1994. Australia and New Zealand in April last year signed a Closer Defence Relations agreement, one element of which was a study into shared trans-Tasman flying training. It is understood that study has been finished and the decisions. including the impact on Wigram. will be announced soon. Has Formula Atlantic run out of track? By Lindsay Kerr For many years arguments within New Zealand motor racing circles as to what should be considered the premier class has done little to help the sports promotion. Much of the criticism has been levelled at the Formula Atlantic class by people who only want to promote their own interest, which for the most has been saloon cars. At the present time, formula Atlantics remain the premier class, in spite of a drop in numbers, but the once popular modified saloon class is in virtual tatters. Formula Atlantics have survived without flourishing for near 20 years and there are now moves to replace it with something ditterent. The popular options in recent times have been Formula 3000 and Formula 3. Like any form of racing the costs are high. Formula 3000 would prove the most popular replacement if for no other reason than the cars are V8 powered and with it would come an exciting noise level * an important ingredient in any motor racing. Veteran Formula Atlantic driver Bob Donaldson from Cambridge believes that we should be looking to North America and not Europe. The Indy Lights formula, with 425bhp 4.2 litre engines, is the way to go, Donaldson says. Indy Lights is the category between Formula Atlantic and Indycars in North America. Donaldson's argument also takes into consideration the creation of opportunities for New Zealanders to further their overseas careers. One of Donaldson's crew for many years and himself a former driver, Dennis Dunbar echoes these thoughts. He also believes that Indy Lights cars would be considerably cheaper than Formula Atlantic. "A' new Reynard rolling chassis (no engine or spares) costs around $170,000 and a Swift $120,000," he said. "For a good Indy Lights equivalent you would be looking at no more than $100,000. "Formula 3000 woula be great, but not only is there the cost but also the problem over circuit safety. New Zealand tracks in their present form would not stack up. "Formula 3 is not the answer. They are slower than Atlantic cars and sound awful by comparison." The cost of Formula Atlantic is a problem in New Zealand motor racing with many top formula Ford drivers preferring to remain in what has become a prestigious class or go to saloon cars rather than change to Atlantics. Indy Light cars come from a Formula 3000 based chassis and are powered by Buick V6 engines with fuel injection and 7500 pm rev limiters. The tyres are all specified Firestone radials. Drivers in North American series who have raced Formula Atlantics in New Zealand include Mark Smith and Robbie Groff, while Paul Tracy and Ted Prappas have since gone on to Indycars. The latter - regarded by the Americans as their Formula One — is a class which Donaldson believes would be far more easily achievable by New Zealand drivers than formula One in its present form. Formula Atlantic in New Zealand has been guaranteed another two years. After that the decision is on the shoulders of the Motorsport Association's new motor racing board.