Start of race; Stewart and Clark at various stages; Brabham retires; Sterwart over line; with cup and victory laurel.




Initials RGH/VS/CR/EEH


SPORT: CAR RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Scotsman Jackie Stewart held off a race-long challenge from fellow-countryman Jim Clark to win the New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe, near Auckland, on Saturday (January 7). Stewart, a works driver from BRM, lead the way from a field of 19, including six international drivers.

Richard Attwood of England, in another works BRM, was third -- a lap behind Clark's Lotus.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the race was the retirement of Jack Brabham, the world champion, in the seventh lap. The Australian's V-8 Repco-Brabham left the track during a preliminary race in the morning, badly damaging its rear suspension.

Brabham's mechanics worked against the clock to repair the car in time for the main race, but one half-shaft was running off-centre when the world champion roared off with the field.

A crowd of 30,000 watched New Zealand's Grand Prix, which does not count towards the world drivers' championship.

Stewart crossed the line 150 yards (metres) ahead of former world champion Clark -- a gap that would have been narrower had Clark not had to hold on to his helmet for the last few laps. The cowling of his Lotus shattered in a slight collision with a car he was lapping at the hairpin.