Baird won the first NZ Grand Prix to be held at Manfeild – 1992

The first New Zealand Grand Prix to be held at Manfeild Park in Feilding was in 1992.  The single seater summer series in the early 90s was essentially a battle between two Formula Pacific manufacturers – Swift and Reynard.  It was Craig Baird –Reynard 92, that won from the Shell Sponsored Swift DB4 of Paul Radisich , with Ken Smith third (pictured above).

Ken Smith on the grid
Ken Smith on the grid

Entrants included Harry Nuttall and Julian Westwood both in Swift DB4s in a team run by Graeme Lawrence. Greg Murphy and Mark Pedersen also took the grid.

Radisich in a Swift DB4
Radisich in a Swift DB4

Barry Thomlinson drove a Reynard 90. “I honestly don’t remember where I finished” recalls Thomlinson, “although I started one spot behind Ken (Smith), fifth on the grid. I guarantee my gearbox split in half. It did it a lot that year.”

Barry Thomlinson in the Reynard 89H
Barry Thomlinson in the Reynard 89H

Whoever wins this Sunday’s New Zealand Grand Prix will have their name etched on a trophy alongside many famous single seater drivers.

There have been five drivers have won the New Zealand Grand Prix three times

– Jack Brabham 1958, 1960, 1961

– Stirling Moss 1956, 1959, 1962

– Craig Baird 1991, 1992, 1993

– Ken Smith 1976, 1990, 2004

– Nick Cassidy 2012, 2013, 2014

 

Eight drivers have won it twice – Graham Hill (1965, 1966), Chris Amon (1968, 1969), John McCormack (1973, 1974), Keke Rosberg (1977, 1978), Ross Cheever (1985, 1986), Davy Jones (1985, 1987), Simon Wills (1998, 1999) and Daniel Gaunt (2007, 2009).

 

Whatever the result, history will be made and another young driver will hold the trophy high.

Benjamin Carrell is a freelance motorsport writer and currently edits talkmotorsport.co.nz. He writes for a number of Kiwi drivers and motorsport clubs. That's when he's not working in his horticultural day-job or training for the next road or mtb cycle race!

https://talkmotorsport.co.nz

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