If Australia has punched above its weight in Formula 1, this tag is even more suitable for New Zealand.
Just 10 drivers have driven in motorsport’s top-tier, but the legacy of the names on this list make for some interesting reading of course and the Repco Garage will highlight each.
Let us know in the comments, which driver is best.
Bruce McLaren 1958-1970 Starts: 100
Bruce McLaren’s team still lives on today as a leading and storied team in Formula 1 even if its founder passed away in a testing crash at Goodwood in 1970. Australian Jack Brabham identified his talent, but it was a New Zealand ‘Driver to Europe’ scheme designed to provide young drivers a chance to compete against the best in the world that afforded McLaren the opportunity to head to Europe.
Joining Cooper proved a successful move in 1958 as he became the youngest winner in Formula 1 history to that point at 22 and finished runner up to the Australian in 1960.
Entering his own team in Formula 1 ahead of the 1966 season alongside fellow New Zealander Chris Amon, McLaren took his eponymous squad’s first win at Spa, 1968.
McLaren passed away having taken one win and fellow countryman Denny Hulme two wins, but of course through its many eras McLaren continues to be a a name full of prestige on the Formula 1 tour to this day in addition to a burgeoning road car business.
Tony Shelly 1962, Starts: 1
Only making a solitary start in Formula 1 at the 1962 British Grand Prix at Aintree, Tony Shelly had only made his motorsport debut seven years prior in the New Zealand Grand Prix although he failed to start.
Successful in Cooper machinery across both New Zealand and Australia during the late-1950s a move to Europe followed in 1962 when Shelly linked up with John Dalton.
This gave him his only Formula 1 start and just two years later he retired from motorsport to take on his father’s dealership in Honolulu Hawaii.
Chris Amon 1963-1976 Starts: 96
The best driver to never win a race is the tag Chris Amon was unable to shake through his distinguished career in Formula 1.
Driving for many leading teams including Ferrari, Cooper, Tyrrell, Matra, BRM and various other privateer efforts, Amon got his break when English racer Reg Parnell advised him to go to Europe after a strong performance in the rain at Lakeside.
Parnell entered Amon into Formula 1 in 1962, but a litany of consequences including the passing of Parnell ensured a false dawn as did a move to McLaren next.
Winning at Le Mans partnering Bruce McLaren led to an invitation to race for Enzo Ferrari in 1967 and he raced for the Scuderia for the next three seasons producing six podiums.
Then came switches from March to Matra to Tecno to his own Chris Amon Racing concern to Team BRM, the Ensign and finally Walter Wolf Racing.
Amon enjoyed other successes in sports cars, retired back to New Zealand in 1977 and passed away of cancer in 2016.
Denny Hulme 1965-1974 Starts: 112
New Zealand’s only winner of the World Drivers’ Championship in 1967 for Brabham, Denis ‘Denny’ Hulme added to this three third place results in the standings at a nine-year career.
Hulme’s career was successful in junior formulas even if there was tragedy when close friend George Lawton died in his arms after a crash in Denmark.
Jack Brabham gave him his break in Europe as Hulme dominated Formula Juniors, before joining the Formula 1 squad in 1965. Making his debut at Monaco, Hulme scored his maiden points finish in France and his rise began as the Brabham team enjoyed great success during this period culminating in the boss taking the title in 1966, the New Zealander was fourth.
Reliability was key in 1967 and Hulme had that as he won in Monaco in addition to the Nurburgring to seal the title.
A move to McLaren followed in 1968 led to further victories and heartbreak due to his team boss/friend’s passing in 1970, while a methanol fire during the Indianapolis 500 burnt his hands. Still finishing fourth, 1971 was a disaster, but sponsorship came through in 1972 to bolster Hulme’s attack and he was third.
Further trauma was caused when long-time teammate and friend Peter Revson crashed due to a front suspension failure at Kyalami. Hulme was once again on hand to try to save a friend, but to no avail.
Retiring at the end of 1974, Hulme transferred into touring cars and died at Bathurst 1992 due to a heart attack.
Howden Ganley 1971-1974 Starts: 35
Inspiration from attending the 1955 New Zealand Grand Prix led to Howard Ganley being interested in cars as first a journalist, then a mechanic when he moved to Europe in 1961.
When a second place finish to Peter Gethin in the European Formula 5000 Championship captured the attention of BRM, Ganley was signed for 1971 and won the Wolfgang von Trips Memorial Trophy for best newcomer after scoring two points finishes.
A timing mix up nearly led to his maiden Grand Prix victory in Canada for the Iso-Marlboro team in 1973, but Ganley was classified sixth in corrected results.
Injury while driving for Maki led to the end of Ganley’s career and a stillborn Formula 1 entry followed until linking with Australian Tim Schenken to create TIGA Race Cars in 1976.
Graham McRae 1973 Starts: 1
Acknowledged as one of New Zealand’s great drivers and innovators, Graham McRae’s only Formula 1 start was brief as he retired on the opening lap of the 1973 British Grand Prix.
McRae drove a Frank Williams Racing Cars Iso-Marlboro IR, but a throttle problem ended his event after just one lap despite making it through a big opening lap incident.
More known for his Formula 5000 career than anything else was McRae as he enjoyed success in Europe, Australia and America.
McRae entered into manufacturing as he constructed replica Porsches at the turn of the millennium, but this ended due to illness in 2003, passing away at the age of 81 in 2021.
John Nicholson 1974-1975 Starts: 2
John Nicholson was successful in Formula Atlantics before debuting in Formula 1 driving for Martin Slater of Lyncar in 1974, but he failed to qualify.
The next year Nicholson did and to finish five laps behind in 17th and a full-on attack was planned using a McLaren M23 in 1976, but the purchase fell through forcing him to return to Formula Two competition.
A noted engine builder, which prevented him from fully committing to Formula 1, Nicholson returned to New Zealand in 1977 and race powerboats.
Nicholson passed away at age 75 in 2017.
Mike Thackwell 1980, 1984 Starts: 5
If Chris Amon was the unluckiest driver to make it, Mike Thackwell is misfortunate not to enjoy a longer career following a stunning rise through the junior formulas.
Thackwell is the sixth youngest driver to start a Grand Prix when he successfully qualified in Canada at 19-years-old.
After his family had emigrated to Australia when he was six, Thackwell started in motocross before transferring to karts and moved to England in 1976.
Formula Ford, Formula 3 and Formula 2 followed for Thackwell as he came onto the radar of many team bosses including Ken Tyrrell.
After testing for Ensign and Tyrrell, the latter signed him up as a test driver, but when Jochen Mass was injured prior to Zandvoort, Arrows team boss Jackie Oliver provided Thackwell with his Formula 1 opportunity.
He didn’t qualify, but Tyrrell made a third entry available in Canada and an opening lap accident put pay to this as Thackwell was forced to step aside for Jean-Pierre Jarier to drive.
In the next four years a big incident hampered Thackwell as his return led to competitive runs in Formula 3 paving a way to return with first RAM, then Tyrrell.
This all came to nought and sports cars became Thackwell’s focus before retiring in 1988 where he has been a helicopter pilot, a gold miner and a teacher in England.
Brendon Hartley 2017-2018 Starts: 25
Racing his brother’s hand me downs in New Zealand led to Brendon Hartley enjoying a successfully career in open-wheelers before making the step up to sports cars to win championships with Porsche.
After testing for a variety of Formula 1 teams, Hartley got his opportunity at Toro Rosso and scored four points in his 25 races before being replaced by Alex Albon in 2019.
Liam Lawson 2023 Starts: 5
Liam Lawson is the latest of the breed of New Zealanders to make the grid and I already touted as a future ace winner in Formula 1 following his cameo performances from last year.
Lawson raced in Australia before chasing the dream overseas where he was contender in Formula 3 and 2 in addition to the Japanese Super Formula category.
Last year, he started five races as fill-in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo and this was highlighted by a ninth place finish in Singapore for Alpha Tour.
There will be more to come for Lawson.