1981 New Zealand Grand Prix
# 1981 New Zealand Grand Prix

The 1981 New Zealand Grand Prix was a race held at the Pukekohe Park Raceway on 10 January 1981. It was the 27th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix and was run over two heats of 30 laps each, with the final results being an aggregate of the two. The event was won by New Zealander Dave McMillan. The podium was completed by fellow Kiwis David Oxton and Steve Millen.

## Classification

### Qualifying

| Pos | No. | Driver | Car | Time | Gap |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7 | Steve Millen | Ralt RT1 / Ford BDA | 0:57.9 | |
| 2 | 18 | David Oxton | Ralt RT4/80 / Ford BDA | 0:58.4 | + 0.5 s |
| 3 | 1 | Dave McMillan | Ralt RT4/81 / Nissan LZ14 | 0:59.0 | + 1.1 s |
| 4 | 4 | John Smith | March 77B / Ford BDA Nicholson | 0:59.0 | + 1.1 s |
| 5 | 11 | Ken Smith | March 782/79B / Ford BDA | 0:59.1 | + 1.2 s |
| 6 | 31 | Rob Wilson | March 80A / Ford BDA | 0:59.3 | + 1.4 s |
| 7 | 3 | Charlie O'Brien | Ralt RT1 / Ford BDA | 0:59.3 | + 1.4 s |
| 8 | 19 | Grant Campbell | Chevron B39 / Ford BDA | 0:59.7 | + 1.8 s |
| 9 | 5 | Adrian Reynard | Cuda JR5 / Ford BDA | 1:00.0 | + 2.1 s |
| 10 | 6 | Eric Morgan | Chevron B29 / Ford BDA | 1:00.3 | + 2.4 s |
| 11 | 12 | Tom Donovan | March 77B / Ford BDA | 1:01.0 | + 3.1 s |
| 12 | | Dave Saunders | March 77B / Ford BDA | 1:01.5 | + 3.6 s |
| 13 | | Rex Hart | Surtees TS15 / Ford BDA | 1:02.0 | + 4.1 s |
| 14 | | Robin Irving | Modus M3 / Ford BDA Masport | 1:05.3 | + 7.4 s |

### Grand Prix

| Pos | No. | Driver | Car | Heat 1 | Heat 2 | Laps | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Dave McMillan | Ralt RT1 / Ford BDA | 1st | 3rd | 60 | 13 |
| 2 | 18 | David Oxton | Ralt RT4/80 / Ford BDA | 2nd | 2nd | 60 | 12 |
| 3 | 7 | Steve Millen | Ralt RT1 / Ford BDA | Ret | 1st | 60 | 9 |
| 4 | 4 | John Smith | March 77B / Ford BDA Nicholson | 3rd | 4th | 60 | 7 |
| 5 | 3 | Charlie O'Brien | Ralt RT1 / Ford BDA | 4th | 5th | 60 | 5 |
| 6 | 5 | Adrian Reynard | Cuda JR5 / Ford BDA | 5th | 7th | 59 | 2 |
| 7 | 19 | Grant Campbell | Chevron B39 / Ford BDA | 6th | 9th | 59 | 1 |
| 8 | 31 | Rob Wilson | March 80A / Ford BDA | 9th | 6th | 60 | 1 |
| 9 | 6 | Eric Morgan | Chevron B29 / Ford BDA | 7th | 8th | 59 | |
| Ret | 11 | Ken Smith | March 782/79B / Ford BDA | 10th | Ret | 37 | |
| Ret | 12 | Tom Donovan | March 77B / Ford BDA | Ret | Ret | 35 | |
| Ret | | Robin Irving | Modus M3 / Ford BDA | 8th | Ret | 32 | |
| Ret | | Rex Hart | Surtees TS15 / Ford BDA | Ret | DNS | 0 | |
| Ret | | Dave Saunders | March 77B / Ford BDA | Ret | DNS | 0 | |
| DNS | 1 | Dave McMillan | Ralt RT4/81 / Nissan LZ14 | Withdrew | Withdrew | 0 | |
| Source(s): ||||||||
