Wigram TrophyMotor racing at Wigram airfield · Christchurch · 1949–2000
Wigram · 1949–1994

The Lady Wigram Trophy

New Zealand’s longest-running motor race trophy, named for Agnes, Lady Wigram, widow of Sir Henry Wigram, who gave the land for the airfield. The race on the airfield began in 1949 as the New Zealand Championship Road Race; the trophy was first presented in 1951. From 1964 to 1975 it was a round of the Tasman Series, then the home of New Zealand’s F5000 and Formula Pacific championships, until the last Wigram running in 1994.

Most wins

Graham McRae4
Peter Whitehead3
Jim Clark3
Craig Baird3
Les Moore2
Jack Brabham2
Bruce McLaren2
Ken Smith2
Dave McMillan2

Every winner, 1949–1994

YearWinnerCarCategoryArchiveSources
1949Morrie ProctorRileyNZ Championship Road Race (before the trophy)[1] [2]
1950Hec GreenWolseley Special2nd NZ Championship Road Race[1]
1951Les MooreAlfa Romeo Tipo BFormula Libre; first Lady Wigram Trophy✓ clippings[1] [2]
1952Les MooreAlfa Romeo Tipo BFormula Libre✓ clippings[1]
1953Ron RoycroftAlfa Romeo Tipo BFormula Libre✓ clippings[1]
1954Peter WhiteheadFerrari 125International Formula Libre✓ clippings[1] [2]
1955—Not held: the runway used as the main straight was being resurfaced[1]
1956Peter WhiteheadFerrari 500/750SInternational Formula Libre✓ clippings[1]
1957Peter WhiteheadFerrari 555/860International Formula Libre✓ clippings[1] [2]
1958Archie Scott BrownLister-JaguarInternational Formula Libre✓ clippings[1] [2]
1959Ron FlockhartBRM P25International Formula Libre✓ clippings[1] [2]
1960Jack BrabhamCooper T51-ClimaxInternational Formula Libre✓ clippings[1]
1961Jack BrabhamCooper T53-ClimaxInternational Formula Libre✓ clippings[1]
1962Stirling MossLotus 21-ClimaxInternational Formula Libre✓ clippings[1] [2]
1963Bruce McLarenCooper T62-ClimaxInternational Formula Libre✓ clippings[1]
1964Bruce McLarenCooper T70-ClimaxTasman Series✓ clippings[1] [2]
1965Jim ClarkLotus 32B-ClimaxTasman Series✓ clippings[1] [2]
1966Jackie StewartBRM P261Tasman Series✓ clippings[1] [2]
1967Jim ClarkLotus 33-ClimaxTasman Series✓ clippings[1] [2]
1968Jim ClarkLotus 49T-CosworthTasman Series✓ clippings[1]
1969Jochen RindtLotus 49BT-CosworthTasman Series✓ clippings[1] [2]
1970Frank MatichMcLaren M10A-ChevroletTasman Series (F5000 admitted)✓ clippings[1]
1971Graham McRaeMcLaren M10B-ChevroletTasman Series✓ clippings[1]
1972Graham McRaeLeda GM1-ChevroletTasman Series✓ clippings[1]
1973Graham McRaeMcRae GM1-ChevroletTasman Series✓ clippings[1]
1974John McCormackElfin MR5-Repco HoldenTasman Series; run as the NZ Grand Prix at Wigram✓ clippings[1] [2]
1975Graham McRaeMcRae GM2-ChevroletTasman Series (final year)✓ clippings[1] [2]
1976Ken SmithLola T330/T332Peter Stuyvesant NZ F5000 Championship
Sources differ on T330 or T332		✓ clippings[1] [2]
1977Tom GloyTui BH2-Ford BDAPeter Stuyvesant NZ Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1] [2]
1978Larry PerkinsRalt RT1-Ford BDAPeter Stuyvesant NZ Formula Pacific
Keke Rosberg won Race I		[1] [2]
1979Dave McMillanRalt RT1-Ford BDANZ Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1] [2]
1980Dave McMillanRalt RT1-Ford BDAAurora AFX International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1] [2]
1981David OxtonRalt RT4-Ford BDAAurora AFX International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1] [2]
1982Roberto MorenoRalt RT4-Ford BDAAurora AFX International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1] [2]
1983Allen BergRalt RT4-Ford BDDJust Juice International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1] [2]
1984Davy JonesRalt RT4-Ford BDDJust Juice International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1] [2]
1985Ross CheeverRalt RT4-Ford BDDInternational Formula Pacific
The '1985' trophy was raced on 2 December 1984		✓ clippings[1] [2]
1986Jeff MacPhersonRalt RT4-Ford BDDNZ International Formula Mondial Series[1] [2]
1987Paul RadisichRalt RT4-Ford BDDMita Copiers International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1] [2]
1988Dean HallSwift-CosworthNZ International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1]
1989Hiro MatsushitaSwift-CosworthNZ International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1]
1990Craig BairdSwift-CosworthNZ International Formula Pacific
At Ruapuna
Held at Ruapuna Park while Wigram's runways were resealed; the meeting returned to Wigram in 1992 (The Press, 26 January 1990 and 11 January 1991). [clipping] [clipping]		✓ clippings[1]
1991Ken SmithSwift-ToyotaNZ International Formula Pacific
At Ruapuna
Held at Ruapuna Park while Wigram's runways were resealed; the meeting returned to Wigram in 1992 (The Press, 26 January 1990 and 11 January 1991). [clipping] [clipping]		✓ clippings[1]
1992Craig BairdReynard 92H-ToyotaNZ International Formula Pacific✓ clippings[1]
1993Craig BairdReynard 92H-ToyotaPeter Jackson series, Formula Pacific (last season)✓ clippings[1]
1994Paul StokellReynard 90D-HoldenPeter Jackson NZ International Championship; the last Lady Wigram Trophy at Wigram
Some sources say a Reynard 91D		✓ clippings[1] [2]

Winners from published race records (sources numbered per row). “✓ clippings” means the win is also in this archive’s results; the link opens that year’s race. Where sources disagree, the row says so. Sources: Lady Wigram Trophy, Wikipedia · Lady Wigram Trophy, Christchurch City Libraries · Wigram, primotipo (2022) · 1950 racing, sergent.com.au · Lady Wigram Trophy 1951, alltheracing.nz · The Lady Wigram race, Air Force Museum of New Zealand · oldracingcars.com results · Lady Wigram back on track, Otago Daily Times · Wigram circuit, Motor Sport database.

After Wigram

The trophy was not raced from 1995 to 2002. It returned at the Canterbury Car Club’s Ruapuna circuit (now Euromarque Motorsport Park) in 2003 and was later contested by the Toyota Racing Series. In February 2024 it was awarded again, thirty years after the last Wigram race.

Sources: Wikipedia · Otago Daily Times