Motorsport: Grand time ahead

Earl Bamber, 17, became the youngest winner in the Lady Wigram Trophy's 48-year history last weekend.

Manfeild this weekend returns to host the New Zealand Grand Prix for the next three years.

New Zealand is one of only two race meetings outside the F1 circuit, the other Macau, permitted to call their premier race a Grand Prix. Both races were contested before the inception of Bernie Ecclestone's circus, and although not part of the F1 championships, are still Grand Prixs in their own right.

Past winner include a royal - Prince B. Bira of Thailand driving a Maserati in 1955 - and world F1 champions Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart and Keke Rosberg.

Other illustrious past winners are Stirling Moss, Teo Fabi and Kiwis Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren, Paul Radisich, Greg Murphy, Craig Baird and Jonny Reid, to name a few. And of course there's the evergreen three-time winner Ken Smith, who at 65 is again contesting the title after 50 years of racing, winning his first NZGP back in 1976.

The NZGP returns to Manfeild this weekend for the first time since the mid-1990s (1992-95), but the regional association goes back to 1950 when the NZGP was held at Ohakea - won by John McMillan.

"We recognise how valuable the New Zealand Grand Prix is," said Manfeild Trust chairman Ben Vanderkolk. "It has the potential to pump millions of dollars into the regional economy. We've been given a great opportunity and want to set the pace for excellence."

The 35-lap event, contested by the Toyota Racing Series single-seater class, has attracted a strong field of local and overseas racing talent.

Chief among the younger drivers is 17-year-old Earl Bamber, who last Sunday became the youngest winner in the 48-year history of the Lady Wigram Trophy at Ruapuna. Bamber will be kept honest by two-time TRS champion and defending NZGP champion Daniel Gaunt, who is having a change from the Porsche GT3 he now contests.

"We're obviously going to be a main contender for [NZGP]," said Gaunt. "We had a bit of bad luck at the Lady Wigram. After putting the car on pole we came up two kilos under weight and had to start at the back of the grid.

"We proved we haven't lost any speed over the last two years and I'm sure we'll be one of the ones to beat. I enjoy driving at Manfeild and we have a good set-up from last year."

Adding an international flavour is ChampCar driver and GT3 pilot Matt Halliday, helping mentor Iceland's Kristjan Einar. "It's a bit difficult jumping back into one of these cars," said Halliday.

"The team has been assembled quite quickly but we finished second overall at Ruapuna.

"I like Manfeild as for the last three years I won every round I've done in a Porsche. I've only raced the Grand Prix twice before, finishing third and second, so I guess there's only one more to add."

Palmerston North's Nelson Hartley, older brother of recently signed British Formula 3000 driver Brendon, and Gaunt's step-brother, Michael Pickens, the current national Midget Speedway champion who is trying to cross over to tarmac racing, as well as TRS points leader Andy Knight will all be joining the fray.

Knight retained his TRS championship lead after round two at Ruapuna last weekend.

Despite mechanical problems he did enough to secure third place overall for the round and lies third in the international series being fought over the next two rounds at Manfeild and Taupo.

"Manfeild is the obvious choice for the Grand Prix," said TRS category manager Barrie Thomlinson. "With Toyota New Zealand being headquartered in Palmerston North, [the circuit] is our home track. It's also a circuit that suits our cars really well and I have great memories of when I ran in Grand Prixs there.

"We can't wait to be there."

One of Manfeild's strengths is it offers great viewing points.

Saturday sees qualifying followed by a street party in Feilding from 5pm to 10pm. Tickets cost between $25 and $35. Children under 14 accompanied by an adult get in free.