Ken Smith (racing driver)
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Ken Smith MBE | |
---|---|
Nationality | New Zealander |
Full name | Kenneth James Smith |
Born | 11 August 1941 |
Kenneth James Smith MBE (born 11 August 1941) is a New Zealand motor racing driver, who won the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1976, 1990, and 2004.[1][2]
Smith first competed in motor racing in 1958, winning the New Zealand Hill Climb championship when he was 16. He progressed to single seater racing in 1962, first driving a Lola March T, Formula Junior car. Later he raced in Formula Ford, Formula 5000, Formula Pacific, Formula Mondial, and Toyota Racing Series among others[3][4]
Smith won the Gold Star Drivers Award in the 1975–1976, 1983–1984, 1984–1985, 1986–1987 and 1989–1990 seasons.[5] In 2011 Smith won the Formula 5000 Revival championship for the third time.[6] As well as his victories in New Zealand, Smith also won the Penang Grand Prix three times, the Selangor Grand Prix twice, and the Malaysian Grand Prix once.[7]
In 2021, Smith took part in his 50th New Zealand Grand Prix at age 79, during his 63rd consecutive season of racing.[8][9]
Honours and awards[edit]
Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to motorsport,[10] and in 1995 was inducted into the New Zealand Motorsport Hall of Fame.[11] In 2008 he received the Motorsport Personality of the Year award.[12] In 2010 he received a Motorsport New Zealand Special Award given in recognition of his pivotal role in motorsport.[13]
Racing Record[edit]
NZ F5000 Tasman Revival Series[edit]
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Position | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014/15 | Ken Smith Motorsport | Lola T332 | Chevrolet | SAN R1 | SAN R2 | SAN R3 | SMSP R1 | SMSP R2 | SMSP R3 | HAM R1 1 | HAM R2 1 | HAM R3 1 | HAM2 R1 1 | HAM2 R2 1 | HAM2 R3 1 | RUA R1 | RUA R2 | RUA R3 | MAN R1 1 | MAN R2 1 | MAN R3 1 | N/A | 0** |
2015/16 | Ken Smith Motorsport | Lola T332 | Chevrolet | MAN R1 1 | MAN R2 1 | MAN R3 1 | HAM R1 1 | HAM R2 1 | HAM R3 1 | RUA R1 1 | RUA R2 1 | RUA R3 1 | MAN2 R1 1 | MAN2 R2 1 | MAN2 R3 1 | PHI R1 2 | PHI R2 2 | PHI R3 3 | PHI R4 3 | 1st | ? | ||
2016/17 | Ken Smith Motorsport | Lola T332 | Chevrolet | BAR R1 | BAR R2 | BAR R3 | SAN R1 | SAN R2 | SAN R3 | HAM R1 1 | HAM R2 1 | HAM R3 1 | TAU R1 1 | TAU R2 3 | TAU R3 1 | RUA R1 1 | RUA R2 1 | RUA R3 2 | N/A | 0** | |||
2017/18 | Ken Smith Motorsport | Lola T332 | Chevrolet | PUK R1 DNS | PUK R2 DNF | PUK R3 DNS | MAN R1 | MAN R2 | MAN R3 | TAU R1 1 | TAU R2 2 | TAU R3 2 | HAM R1 1 | HAM R2 1 | HAM R3 1 | RUA R1 DNF | RUA R2 DNS | RUA R3 DNS | PHI R1 | PHI R2 | PHI R3 | 12th | 272 |
2018/19 | Ken Smith Motorsport | Lola T332 | Chevrolet | PUK R1 1 | PUK R2 1 | PUK R3 1 | TAU R1 1 | TAU R2 1 | TAU R3 1 | HAM R1 | HAM R2 | HAM R3 | RUA R1 | RUA R2 | RUA R3 | HAM R1 | HAM R2 | HAM R3 | 1st | 208 |
- * Season Still in progress
- ** Needed to compete at all rounds to be classified for points
Complete Toyota Racing Series results[edit]
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
References[edit]
- ^ "Ken Smith Still Has Winning Formula". Stuff.co.nz. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "New Zealand Grand Prix". Toyota Racing Series. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Ken Smith". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Toyota Racing Series". Toyota Racing Series. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Gold Star Race Champions - Single Seater". Motorsport New Zealand. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Smith Secures Third Consecutive Formula 5000 Revival Crown". Motorsport New Zealand. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Titles". Ken Smith. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Tributes paid to Smith ahead of 50th NZGP start".
- ^ Bartholomaeus, Stefan (14 January 2021). "KEN SMITH SET FOR 50TH NZ GP START". Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "No. 50950". The London Gazette (4th supplement). 13 June 1987. p. 32.
- ^ "'You' Night Attracts Scott Dixon". scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Motorsport New Zealand Media Awards". Motorsport New Zealand. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Motorsport New Zealand Special Award". Motorsport New Zealand. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
External links[edit]
- Ken Smith Motorsport
- Motorsport New Zealand
- Ken Smith career summary at DriverDB.com