New Zealand Formula Pacific 1979

Although the New Zealand International series had lost its headline sponsor, it still attracted a strong overseas entry, headed by Fred Opert's pair of Chevron B45s, a works March entered for Teo Fabi, Jeff Wood's March 78B from the US and Eje Elgh in an ex-Project Four March 782 entered by Dick Bennetts. Fabi's March 782 was the 79B-bodied car used by Alan Jones at Macau, and when the Opert Chevrons did not turn up at Bay Park, Fabi was able to dominate both races. Fabi convincingly won both halves of the New Zealand GP at Pukekohe a week later in the continuing and mysterious absence of the Opert cars, and then made it six out of six at Manfeild, although this time Larry Perkins in Colin Giltrap's Wynns March 77B was much closer to him.

Fabi's luck ran out at Teretonga has he suffered carburettor problems in the first race allowing Perkins to win comfortably. In the second race, Perkins and Fabi dueled for the lead but a collision meant Fabi needed a new nose cone, which left him out of the points, and Perkins with a second win. Due to the ridiculous 20-18-16 points system adopted by the organisers, which gave too few points to the winner, this brought Brett Riley and the Rentokill March 77B, who had finished second to Perkins in both races, within two points of Fabi for the championship.

In the deciding weekend at Wigram, Dave McMillan won the first race after a battle with Fabi, the Italian dropping back with tyre problems. McMillan then dominated the second race, leaving Fabi and Perkins to have another dice for second place. There was another collision, but this time it was Perkins whose car was damaged and Fabi was able to finish second to clinch the title. Peter Greenslade in Autosport observed that had the usual 9-6-4 points system been used, Fabi would have won the title on 66 points from Perkins on 46 and Riley on 44, a more representative result.

The races

31 Dec 1978 > Baypark Raceway

31 Dec 1978 > Baypark Raceway

06 Jan 1979 > New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe

06 Jan 1979 > New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe

14 Jan 1979 > Manfeild

14 Jan 1979 > Manfeild

20 Jan 1979 > Teretonga Park

20 Jan 1979 > Teretonga Park

28 Jan 1979 > Wigram

28 Jan 1979 > Wigram

1979 New Zealand Formula Pacific Championship table

Previous: the 1978 season

Next: the 1980 season

Peter Greenslade's reports for Autosport were in AS 11 Jan 1979 p7, AS 11 Jan 1979 p12, AS 18 Jan 1979 p8 and 1 Feb 1979 p6.