New Zealand Grand Prix

2.5-litre Tasman Formula (January 8th)

Only three European drivers made the trip to the other side of the world for this year’s New Zealand Grand Prix, these being Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart, with 1965 Formula One B.R.M. works cars fitted with 2-litre V8 engines, and Jim Clark with a works Lotus fitted with a 4-cylinder 2 1/2-litre Coventry-Climax engine. Clark was virtually eliminated on the starting line, for bottom gear broke as he started and he was rammed from behind by Frank Gardner’s Brabham-Climax, which had been propelled. forwards by Andrew Buchanan’s similar car. Although Clark carried on for a few laps he was no opposition for Hill and Stewart, who gave a B.R.M. “demonstration” to the New Zealand crowd, being followed home by the local drivers.

Correction : Avon point out that the included angle of the plies in their Avon Radial tyres is 40 deg., the plies being at plus or minus 20 deg. to the circumference, and not as stated in G.V.’s article “The Latest in Tyres” last month.