King Kenny rides again
New Zealand racing legend Kenny Smith will make his 48th New Zealand Grand Prix start this coming weekend at Manfeild
Circuit Chris Amon.
Smith - 77 - will join the field of sixteen up and coming single seater racers that include his latest protégé,
championship leader Liam Lawson.
The speedy septuagenarian will drive a Toyota FT50 identical to the other cars in the field and will be run by former F1
world champion mechanic for McLaren, Stephen Giles. He is relishing the challenge of taking on some of the world's top
young drivers, despite being 'experienced' enough to be their grandfather in most cases.
“It is still just as exciting and just as much of a privilege it has always been to take part in the Grand Prix and I
still treat it how I have for the past 47 years and more,” he explained. “My aim is always to be as competitive as I can
be and to drive as hard as I can against some fantastic drivers and this year is no different.
“What’s particularly exciting for me is to be competing in a field with two great young Kiwi drivers. Liam is a truly
exceptional driver. A racer for whom winning is everything. He’s a bit old school in that regard and he has the talent
to go all the way, no question. He’s got to improve a bit on his arm wrestling though, I can still beat him at that.
“Marcus too is a very talented driver, I’ve watched him develop since his karting days and he, like Liam, is destined
for great things. In my mind their battle and their rivalry has lifted both of them to exceptional heights in this
championship.”
Smith will take part in unofficial practice at the Feilding track on Thursday before the official sessions begin on
Friday. On Saturday morning he will qualify the car for the first race of the weekend which takes place later that
afternoon. On Sunday morning he will race for a second time and qualify the car for the afternoon's 64th New Zealand
Grand Prix which will be run over 35 laps of the Manfeild circuit.
Kenny, who only two weekends ago re-set the outright lap record at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in his iconic Formula
5000 Lola, has not only competed in the Grand Prix on 47 previous occasions, he's also won it three times - in 1976, in
1990 and in 2004. These wins spanned three very different and distinct eras of New Zealand motorsport and he has fond
memories of all.
"Every win was special, of course, and every time I take part is equally memorable but there’s not a lot that beats the
first time you win,” he added, with a wry smile. “I still want to win a fourth of course. Obviously it’s getting harder
these days but I can definitely say I’m aiming to finish in the top 17!”
Smith first competed in motor racing as far back as 1958, the year Mike Hawthorn was crowned F1 world champion and
Vanwall won the inaugural manufacturers’ trophy from Ferrari. The Italian giants had some consolation from a Le Mans 24
hour victory for Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, however.
Across the Atlantic, the 1958 Indy 500 was won by a front-engined car in the shape of Jimmy Bryan's Epperly-Offenhauser
while closer to home the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup (some things never change) and the 32nd New Zealand
Parliament commenced with the newly elected Labour government led by Prime Minister Walter Nash.
While all that was going on Kenny was busy winning the New Zealand Hill Climb Championship at the age of 16. From those
early beginnings he moved to his beloved single seater racing in 1962, first driving a Formula Junior car. From there he
went on to race through Formula Ford, Formula 5000, Formula Pacific, Formula Mondial and the Toyota Racing Series among
others.
Smith won the New Zealand Gold Star Drivers Award in the 1975–1976, 1983–1984, 1984–1985, 1986–1987 and 1989–1990
seasons. As well as his countless racing victories in New Zealand, Ken has also won the Penang Grand Prix three times,
the Selangor Grand Prix twice and the Malaysian Grand Prix once.
2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series
January 12-13 - Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup – Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell (completed)
January 19-20 - Spirit Of A Nation Cup – Teretonga Park, Invercargill (completed)
January 26-27 - NZ Motor Cup – Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Waikato (completed)
February 2-3 - Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy – Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo (completed)
February 9-10 - New Zealand Grand Prix – Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding