New Zealand Formula Pacific 1978
Fred Opert Racing returned to New Zealand with two Chevron B39s for Keke Rosberg and Bobby Rahal, and the US contingent also included Danny Sullivan in a new March 77B. Steve Millen had acquired a new Chevron B42, but fellow Kiwis Dave McMillan and Kenny Smith had to make do with older equipment. Surtees F1 driver Larry Perkins represented Australia in a new Ralt RT1.
Rosberg dominated the season with six wins and he returned to Europe for what was expected to be a season of F1 driving for the Kauhsen team. (That did not work out as planned.) Perkins won two races, with the others falling to Millen and the under-financed and under-appreciated Brett Riley.
The format of the New Zealand Internationals changed in 1978, with two races being held on each weekend, so the championship had ten rounds in total. However, this led to some problems, as MANZ still wanted there to be a single New Zealand Grand Prix winner for 1978, not two winners. This required the races to be recombined in various ways depending on which championship they counted towards.
The races
02 Jan 1978 > Baypark Raceway
02 Jan 1978 > Baypark Raceway
07 Jan 1978 > New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe
07 Jan 1978 > New Zealand Grand Prix at Pukekohe
15 Jan 1978 > Manfeild
15 Jan 1978 > Manfeild
22 Jan 1978 > Teretonga Park
22 Jan 1978 > Teretonga Park
29 Jan 1978 > Wigram
29 Jan 1978 > Wigram
1978 Peter Stuyvesant New Zealand Formula Pacific Championship table
| 1 | Keke Rosberg | Chevron B39 - Ford BDA Titan | 58 pts | 6 wins |
| 2 | Larry Perkins | Ralt RT1 - Ford BDA Swindon | 52 pts | 2 wins |
| 3 | Bobby Rahal | Chevron B39 - Ford BDA Morris | 30 pts | |
| 4 | Danny Sullivan | March 77B - Ford BDA Nicholson | 26 pts | |
| 5 | Dave McMillan | Ralt RT1 - Ford BDA Hart | 18 pts | |
| 6 | David Oxton | Chevron B34 - Ford BDA Hart | 16 pts | |
| 7 | Steve Millen | Chevron B42 - Ford BDA Hart | 14 pts | 1 win |
| 8 | Andrew Miedecke | March 763/76B - Ford BDA Dewhurst | 11 pts | |
| 9 | Brett Riley | March 77B - Ford BDA Nicholson | 10 pts | 1 win |
| 10 | Ken Smith | March 76B - Ford BDA Nicholson | 7 pts | |
| 11 | Richard Melville | March 76B - Ford BDA Hooker | 5 pts | |
| 12 | Ross Stone | Cuda JR3 - Ford BDA Nicholson | 2 pts | |
| 13 | Ian Grob | March 763/77B - Ford BDA Swindon | 1 pt |
1977-1978 Union Travel MANZ Gold Star
In October 1977, MANZ announced that the Gold Star series would be sponsored by Union Travel, part of the Union Steam Ship Company.
The races
16 Oct 1977 > New Zealand Gold Star round - Race 1 at Ruapana Park
16 Oct 1977 > New Zealand Gold Star round - Race 2 at Ruapana Park
23 Oct 1977 > New Zealand Gold Star Race at Timaru (Levels)
30 Oct 1977 > New Zealand Gold Star Race at Manfeild
30 Oct 1977 > Manfeild International
13 Nov 1977 > New Zealand Gold Star Race at Pukekohe
26 Mar 1978 > New Zealand Gold Star Race at Baypark Raceway
09 Apr 1978 > New Zealand Gold Star Race at Pukekohe
16 Apr 1978 > New Zealand Gold Star Race at Manfeild
1978 Union Travel Formula 1 Championship (MANZ Gold Star) table
| 1 | Ross Stone | Cuda JR3 - Ford BDA Nicholson | ||
| 2 | Ken Smith | March 76B - Ford BDA Nicholson | ||
| 3 | Richard Melville | March 76B - Ford BDA |