Kiwi F1 Drivers

mortda · 24 Sep 2004, 06:16 (Ref:1105657)

Can anyone tell me How many New Zealander drivers have taken part in a Formula 1 Grand Prix and who are they?

stoned pony · 24 Sep 2004, 06:21 (Ref:1105659)

Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Denny Hulme spring immediately to mind. Maybe others can add to that short list.

jetsetter · 24 Sep 2004, 06:26 (Ref:1105660)

Mike Thackwell is another Kiwi who has competed in F1, i think Thackwell may well have been the youngest driver to have competed in a Grand Prix.

mortda · 24 Sep 2004, 10:00 (Ref:1105753)

The only drivers that I could think off were
1)Chris Amon
2)Denny Hulme
3)Bruce McLaren
4)Mike Thackwell
5)Howden Ganley

BootsOntheSide · 24 Sep 2004, 10:03 (Ref:1105761)

A world champion, the youngest race winner for over 40 years, the youngest ever starter of a Grand Prix, and the man widely regarded as the best driver to never win a race. Not bad for such a small country, is it? Certainly nothing to be angry about.

Morris 1100 · 24 Sep 2004, 10:17 (Ref:1105781)

Quote:

Originally posted by mortda
The only drivers that I could think off were
1)Chris Amon
2)Denny Hulme
3)Bruce McLaren
4)Mike Thackwell
5)Howden Ganley

6) Graham McRae
7) Tony Shelly

jetsetter · 24 Sep 2004, 12:04 (Ref:1105872)

N.Z. has had eight drivers in F1 with the seven already mentioned as well as John Nicholson who competed in the 1975 British Grand Prix.

Morris 1100 · 24 Sep 2004, 12:18 (Ref:1105881)

I knew I had forgotten someone!!

Down F0rce · 24 Sep 2004, 13:53 (Ref:1105935)

Scott Dixon has also tested a Williams not long ago...

pole2pole · 24 Sep 2004, 14:56 (Ref:1105990)

Quote:

Originally posted by Down F0rce
Scott Dixon has also tested a Williams not long ago...

I thought this guy would have got a drive for the 05 season with the interest williams was taking in him.

Rich R · 24 Sep 2004, 22:09 (Ref:1106319)

what is it with kiwis doing things young, they had the youngest formula 1 race winner(until alonso), the youngest entrant in a gp, and scott dixon is still the youngest ever winner of a major open wheeled race(nazareth champcar race, 6th may 2001).

Teretonga · 24 Sep 2004, 23:03 (Ref:1106349)

You can start young. Amon was running a Maserati 250F in the NZGP at 17, Dixon won the F.Vee title at thirteen (12 yrs when the season started) Mclaren was in hillclimbs I think at 16. In NZ at present you can run in FFord 1600 at 13-14 yrs old. You don't need to hold a road license.

Armco Bender · 25 Sep 2004, 10:25 (Ref:1106502)

Did Thackwell ever live here?I always felt he used NZ as a flag of convience.

If I'm not mistaken mortda is doing the Nescafe quiz too.

BootsOntheSide · 25 Sep 2004, 16:24 (Ref:1106651)

Quote:

Originally posted by Teretonga
You can start young. Amon was running a Maserati 250F in the NZGP at 17, Dixon won the F.Vee title at thirteen (12 yrs when the season started) Mclaren was in hillclimbs I think at 16. In NZ at present you can run in FFord 1600 at 13-14 yrs old. You don't need to hold a road license.

Interestingly, is it possible that this counts agains ttheir guys in the long run? Maybe they get burnt out earlier,a dn lsoe the initial enthusiasm before reachign the top?

Teretonga · 25 Sep 2004, 20:03 (Ref:1106804)

Mike Thackwell was born in NZ to Ray Thackwell who later moved to Perth, Australia. Ray had raced a 1.5 litre Brabham in NZ. Mike grew up in Perth.

Armco Bender · 25 Sep 2004, 20:58 (Ref:1106849)

Quote:

Interestingly, is it possible that this counts agains ttheir guys in the long run? Maybe they get burnt out earlier,a dn lsoe the initial enthusiasm before reachign the top?

Not lack of enthusiasm,but lack of money.There isnt the money here that you need to secure drives overseas.
Also because NZ is/was a farming based country kids drive younger here.I used to drive trucks and tractors around the farm from when I was 9-10 yrs old.My 12 year old nephew can drive his Dads fully laden stock truck and trailer unit and his fertiliser spreading trucks with no problems(except he can't drive it on the road).

mitzi dude · 27 Sep 2004, 09:18 (Ref:1108049)

I reckon Scott Dixon will be in formula 1 soon I believe he is biding his time. who knows may be next year.

GP Racer · 27 Sep 2004, 20:25 (Ref:1108793)

I reckon your right there mitzi dude!

Scott has been driving so uncompetitively this season in both the IRL and the IROC series, that one can't help but believe he is saving himself, or already has something lined up, in F1.

His owner IRL team owner, Chip Ganassi, has the connections to make it happen.

Kicking-back · 27 Sep 2004, 20:26 (Ref:1108795)

I really doubt it.

Certainly not next year.

Rich R · 27 Sep 2004, 20:49 (Ref:1108824)

i can't see any f1 team wanting to sign scott dixon on the basis of his performances this season.

Slippy Diff · 27 Sep 2004, 21:26 (Ref:1108866)

Quote:

Originally posted by mitzi dude
I reckon Scott Dixon will be in formula 1 soon I believe he is biding his time. who knows may be next year.

I don't think you will see him in F1 ever. There you go, that is my prediction. I have heard that his attitude sometimes does not help his cause??

Slippy Diff · 27 Sep 2004, 21:27 (Ref:1108868)

.

GP Racer · 27 Sep 2004, 23:00 (Ref:1108935)

Quote:

Originally posted by Slippy Diff
I don't think you will see him in F1 ever. There you go, that is my prediction. I have heard that his attitude sometimes does not help his cause??

Well, he's a pretty serious guy, and he's not the most outgoing racer on the track, thats for sure, but I've never really heard about any attitude problems.

He did represent himself well as the IRL champ to.

Teretonga · 28 Sep 2004, 22:28 (Ref:1109881)

Slippy Diff.
Do you have a source to back that up?
It seems to be in direct contrast in regard to everything else I have heard about him.

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