Ken Smith (racing driver)
Kenneth James Smith is a New Zealand motor racing driver, who won the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1976, 1990, and 2004.
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
Smith won the Gold Star Drivers Award in the 1975–1976, 1983–1984, 1984–1985, 1986–1987 and 1989–1990 seasons. In 2011 Smith won the Formula 5000 Revival championship for the third time. 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.
In 2021, Smith took part in his 50th New Zealand Grand Prix at age 79, during his 63rd consecutive season of racing. Smith also mentored current Racing Bulls Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson in his early career.
Honours and awards
Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1987 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to motorsport, and in 1995 was inducted into the New Zealand Motorsport Hall of Fame. In 2008 he received the Motorsport Personality of the Year award. In 2010 he received a Motorsport New Zealand Special Award given in recognition of his pivotal role in motorsport.Racing Record
NZ F5000 Tasman Revival Series
- * Season Still in progress
- ** Needed to compete at all rounds to be classified for points