Ken Smith (racing driver)
| 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] Smith also mentored current Racing Bulls Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson in his early career.
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. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. 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. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. 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. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Motorsport New Zealand Media Awards". Motorsport New Zealand. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Motorsport New Zealand Special Award". Motorsport New Zealand. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
External links
[edit]- Ken Smith Motorsport
- Motorsport New Zealand
- Ken Smith career summary at DriverDB.com