...the latest news from around the world, courtesy of press snoop Lynne Huntting.
Albert Park is commemorating the first Australian GP held there in 1956, fifty years ago. It was part of Melbourne's celebration of being the Olympic Host City. The Repco Historic Demonstration is part of the golden anniversary. Among the 57 entries is SIR STIRLING MOSS, in the car he raced to victory in that race - #7 Maserati 250F CM. He broke the existing track record of 1:59 seconds, with his first practice time of 1:49.6 seconds, and it went better from there out. Rain six laps from the end of the race slowed the pace, or the Margin of Victory would have been more than two minutes for Moss and co-driver JEAN BEHRA of France. A young Aussie driver, JACK BRABHAM, was in the race. Thursday night Sir Jack celebrates his eightieth birthday with a charity party.
All but three of the Repco drivers are Aussies. Moss and DEAN BUTLER are from the UK, and PETER GIDDINGS is making his annual trek to AGP from Northern California in the US.
One driver in the Formula 3 race and in the Track Attack has a well-known name - BRUNO SENNA, nephew of the late great, AYRTON SENNA. He admittedly is getting a late start on his racing career, which was put on hold by his family when his famous uncle died 12 years ago, when Bruno was nine. Recently Bruno was able to persuade his family to let him race, and he was helped by GERHARD BERGER, team-mate and friend of his uncle. Bruno started with Formula
Renault and last season he raced with the Double R team partly owned by KIMI RAIKKONEN.
Another famous second-generation name driver is racing at Albert Park, not for the first time. FABIAN COULTHARD of England, cousin of DAVID COULTHARD, has moved up from the Porsche series to V8's this weekend and is racing a Goldin Commodore with Team Stremme Wines, co-driving with veteran PAUL MORRIS. Coulthard is sharing his V8 ride with ALAN GURR, and also racing in the New Zealand Carrera Cup series.
