New Zealand Formula Pacific 1987
Australian Gold Star champion Graham Watson brought his pair of Ralt Australia RT4/86s to New Zealand for the 1986/87 seasons, one for himself and the other for David Brabham, son of Sir Jack. The quickest of the locals was Ken Smith, who had a new Ralt RT4/86. Another local lad, Paul Radisich, had a 1983 Ralt RT4 and he peformed exceptionally well in the older car. Graeme Lawrence had also acquired a new RT4/86, and entered it for Davy Jones to drive, the American who had impressed in New Zealand two seasons earlier.
The New Zealand season started with three races in the Global Sports Formula Pacific series, but these only attracted seven starters and effectively acted as support races for touring cars races.
Mita Copiers stepped in to sponsor the main series of Internationals, and top of the bill for these was Mike Thackwell, a New Zealander who had been racing in Europe. Despite winning the 1984 F2 title, Thackwell had been unable to take his chances in F1 and CART in 1984, and had been racing in F3000 for the last two seasons. He took over Graham Watson's Ralt RT4/86 for the Mita Copiers series and won the first three races. Kiwi veteran Brett Riley drove Lawrence's car at Baypark, but Jones then took it over again to win three of the next four races.
The final pair of races was at Wigram. Jones' car misbehaved all weekend and he was well off the pace. With Thackwell only needing second places to clinch the title, Radisich won both Wigram races to take second place in the series.
The races
30 Nov 1986 > Manfeild
07 Dec 1986 > Baypark Raceway
14 Dec 1986 > Pukekohe
28 Dec 1986 > Baypark Raceway
28 Dec 1986 > Baypark Raceway
04 Jan 1987 > Pukekohe
04 Jan 1987 > New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe
11 Jan 1987 > Manfeild
11 Jan 1987 > Manfeild
18 Jan 1987 > Wigram
18 Jan 1987 > Lady Wigram Trophy
Mita Copiers International Formula Pacific Series events shown in bold
1987 Mita Copiers International Formula Pacific Series table
| 1 | Mike Thackwell | Ralt RT4/86 - Ford BDD | 49 pts | 3 wins |
| 2 | Paul Radisich | Ralt RT4/83 - Ford BDD | 38 pts | 2 wins |
| 3 | Davy Jones | Ralt RT4/86 - Ford BDD | 34 pts | 3 wins |
| 4 | Ken Smith | Ralt RT4/86 - Ford BDD | 24 pts | |
| 5 | David Kudrave | Ralt RT4/86 - Ford BDD | 16 pts | |
| 6 | David Brabham | Ralt RT4/86 - Ford BDD | 12 pts | |
| 7 | Chris Kneifel | Ralt RT4/86 - Ford BDD | 6 pts | |
| 8= | Calvin Fish | Ralt RT4/86 - Ford BDD | 4 pts | |
| 8= | Brett Riley | Ralt RT4/86 - Ford BDD | 4 pts | |
| 10= | Michael Greenfield | Ralt RT4/83 - Ford BDD | 3 pts | |
| 10= | Peter Haskett | Ralt RT4/81 - Ford BDD | 3 pts | |
| 10= | Tony George | Ralt RT4/84 - Ford BDD | 3 pts | |
| 10= | Bob Creasy | Ralt RT4/82 - Ford BDD | 3 pts |
Points table from On Track 16 Feb 1987 p29.