THE SUMMER OF ’70

At the forefront of the F5000 brigade were the four McLarens: Australian Frank Matich, New Zealander Graham McRae, and American Ron Grable in McLaren M10As, plus fellow Aussie Niel Allen in the newer McLaren M10B. Surely the series winner would come from this group.

Cutting to the chase: before the V8s proved more reliable, Graeme Lawrence had to seize this small window of opportunity on a tighter track with both hands.

DINO AND THE GOLIATHS

The tight Levin circuit was tailormade for Graeme Lawrence and the beautifully handling Ferrari Dino V6, a must-win opportunity for Graeme’s title ambitions. Despite a near miss in a preliminary race, when he spun on oil deposited from Bryan Faloon’s disembowelled Climax motor and nearly hit Dennis Marwood’s Eisert, which had struck the same oil, he escaped the drama. Quick reflexes enabled him to spin the Ferrari again away from the Eisert and avoid the calamity. He started from pole and led the race from start to finish in a commanding display of driving. It was a vital win, as he was going to be outgunned at the other tracks, with the possible exception of Warwick Farm. A win elsewhere would surely have to come from others’ misfortune. From there on, reliability and maximizing his finishing position would be the key in his quest for the title.

Of the other contenders, Kevin Bartlett and Max Stewart