Sir Henry Francis Wigram was a British-born New Zealand businessman, politician and aviation promoter. He is best known for his role in developing a public transport system in Christchurch and as a key player in the establishment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Wigram Airfield Circuit was a temporary motor racing circuit at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, New Zealand. The airfield is a former base of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It is named after Sir Henry Wigram. The temporary circuit was 3.540 km (2.200 mi) with a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) main straight. The first summer meetings held at Wigram Aerodrome in 1949 are considered the oldest motor races in New Zealand. The track hosted rounds of the annual Tasman Series from 1964 to 1975. For safety reasons, the last race at Wigram was held in the year 2000.
The Lady Wigram Trophy is a New Zealand motorsport race trophy formerly awarded to the winner of the Wigram Airfield race. It made up part of the Tasman Series and classes like Formula Holden, Formula 5000, Formula Pacific and Formula Three. The Lady Wigram Trophy is now contested by the Toyota Racing Series at Mike Pero Motorsport Park.
Loftus Tottenham Wigram QC was a British barrister, businessman and Conservative politician.
The 1974 New Zealand Grand Prix was a race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 19 January 1974. The race had 20 starters. This was the first and only New Zealand Grand Prix to be held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit, and the race was also the 1974 Lady Wigram Trophy. The race was moved to Wigram from the usual Pukekohe to be part of the Commonwealth Games being held in Christchurch.
The 1951 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit in New Zealand on 31 March 1951. It was the first Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Les Moore in the Alfa Romeo Tipo B.
The 1953 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 28 February 1953. It was the third Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Ron Roycroft in the Alfa Romeo Tipo B. This was the third straight win for the Tipo B car and Roycroft completed the weekend in dominant fashion achieving pole position and the fastest lap as well as the race win.
The 1954 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 6 February 1954. It was the third Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Peter Whitehead in the Ferrari 125, thereby becoming the first international driver to win the Lady Wigram Trophy.
The 1956 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 21 January 1956. It was the fifth Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Peter Whitehead in the Ferrari 500/750S. This was Whitehead's second Lady Wigram Trophy victory in succession and was another international podium lockout with Tony Gaze once again finishing second and Leslie Marr finishing third.
The 1957 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 25 January 1957. It was the sixth Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Peter Whitehead in the Ferrari 555/860 for the third time in succession.
The 1958 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 25 January 1958. It was the seventh Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Archie Scott Brown in the Lister 57/1. This would prove to be one of Scott Brown's last victories before his untimely death at Spa-Francorchamps later that year.
The 1959 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 24 January 1959. It was the eighth Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Ron Flockhart in the BRM P25.
The 1960 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 23 January 1960. It was the ninth Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Jack Brabham in the Cooper T51.
The 1961 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 21 January 1961. It was the tenth Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Jack Brabham in the Cooper T53.
The 1962 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 20 January 1962. It was the eleventh Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Stirling Moss in the Lotus 21.
The 1963 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 19 January 1963. It was the twelfth Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Bruce McLaren in the Cooper T62. McLaren became the first New Zealander since Ron Roycroft to win the Lady Wigram Trophy.
The 1964 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 18 January 1964. It was the thirteenth Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Bruce McLaren for the second year in succession in the Cooper T70. After having started eighth after a dismal performance in the preliminary heat, McLaren came through the pack to take the win in what he described as his greatest performance. Jack Brabham took second place after a strong performance throughout the weekend whilst Denny Hulme came home third after losing second on the final lap due to engine bearing issues.
The 1965 Lady Wigram Trophy was a motor race held at the Wigram Airfield Circuit on 23 January 1965. It was the fourteenth Lady Wigram Trophy to be held and was won by Jim Clark driving the Lotus 32B in what was the fastest race in the history of the Lady Wigram Trophy.
The 2017 Lady Wigram Trophy was the 56th running of the Lady Wigram Trophy and served as the first round of the 2017 Toyota Racing Series. The event was held at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park, in Christchurch, New Zealand from 13 to 15 January 2017.
Bob Gibbons