1976 New Zealand Grand Prix Explained

Type:CUST
Grand Prix:New Zealand
Country:New Zealand
Location:Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe, New Zealand
Date:4 January
Year:1976
Course:Permanent racing facility
Course Mi:1.76
Course Km:2.82
Distance Laps:58
Distance Mi:102
Distance Km:164
Weather:Light Cloud
Pole Driver:Graeme Lawrence
Pole Country:New Zealand
Pole Team:Lola-Chevrolet
Pole Time:1:00.9
Fast Driver:Graeme Lawrence
Fast Team:Lola-Chevrolet
Fast Time:1:01.4
Fast Country:New Zealand
First Driver:Ken Smith
First Country:New Zealand
First Team:Lola-Chevrolet
Second Driver:Bruce Allison
Second Country:Australia
Second Team:Lola-Chevrolet
Third Driver:Kevin Bartlett
Third Country:Australia
Third Team:Lola-Chevrolet

The 1976 New Zealand Grand Prix was a motor race held at Pukekohe Park Raceway on 4 January 1976. The race, which had 12 starters,[1] was the opening round of the 1976 Peter Stuyvesant Series.[1]

It was the 22nd New Zealand Grand Prix, and the first time the race was not run with the Tasman Series since 1964. New Zealander Ken Smith won his first New Zealand Grand Prix in his Lola T332 and thereby became the first New Zealander to win the race since Chris Amon back in 1969. The rest of the podium was completed by Australians Bruce Allison and Kevin Bartlett.

Classification

Pos No. Driver Team Car Laps Time
111 Ken SmithLa Valise TravelLola T332 / Chevrolet 4995cc V8581hr 1min 42.5sec
262 Bruce AllisonHobby & Toyland RacingLola T332 / Chevrolet 4995cc V858+ 19.5 s
35 Kevin BartlettLola T400 / Chevrolet 4995cc V857+ 1 Lap
41 Brian RedmanFred Opert RacingChevron B29 / BMW 2000cc 4cyl57+ 1 Lap
519 Jim MurdochBegg & Allen Ltd.Begg 018 / Chevrolet 4995cc V856+ 2 Laps
62 Paul BernasconiSharp CalculatorsLola T400 / Chevrolet 4995cc V855+ 3 Laps
712 Baron RobertsonRobertson RacingElfin MR5 / Repco 4994cc V848+ 10 Laps
89 John McCormackAnsett AirlinesElfin MR6 / Repco 4994cc V848+ 10 Laps
94 John EdmondsElfin MR5 / Repco 4994cc V848+ 10 Laps
1010 Robbie BoothMichigan Motors LtdElfin MR5 / Repco 4994cc V843+ 15 Laps
Ret14 Graeme LawrenceWix FiltersLola T332 / Chevrolet 4995cc V829Engine
Ret6 Max StewartSharp CalculatorsLola T400 / Chevrolet 4995cc V829Oil Loss
DNQ20 Ross CalgherCalgher Motor RacingMcLaren M4A / Cosworth 1840cc 4cylDid not qualify
DNQ16 Peter HughesTrans World AirlinesBrabham BT29 / Fiat 1600cc 4cylDid not qualify
DNA67 Graham BakerBegg FM5 / Chevrolet 4995cc V8Did Not Attend
DNA17 Gary LoveBegg FM4 / Chevrolet 4995cc V8Did Not Attend
Source(s): [2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. Australian Competition Yearbook, 1977 Edition, pages 94–97
  2. Web site: 1976 Round 1 Pukekohe . sergent.com.au . 29 October 2015.
  3. Web site: New Zealand Grand Prix – Pukekohe, 4 Jan 1976 . oldracingcars.com . 29 October 2015.