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).
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.
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.”
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.
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