Kiwi Motorsport Great Signed
PRESS RELEASE
1ST October
2014
Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) Sign Kiwi Motorsport Great
Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) Owner, David John, has today confirmed that Kiwi motorsport great, Craig Baird, will head the Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) driver line-up for the 2014/15 NZV8 Touring Car Championship.
Baird, who has driven for TKR before in the 2004 and 2005 Australian V8 Supercar Championship, is regarded as one of the greatest drivers to come out of New Zealand.
“Craig has had an amazing run of success in a wide variety of categories including V8 Supercars and sports car racing over the past decade and, in particular, the one-make Porsche championships across Australasia,” said Team Owner David John.
“After winning more New Zealand titles than any other driver including five Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge New Zealand titles and five Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championships, Craig has proven himself as the most successful one-make Porsche driver in the world, making the choice for Baird to drive the lead TKR car in the 2014/15 NZV8 Championship the right decision.”
Baird will not only be driving the TKR 021 All Black machine in the 2014/15 NZV8 Championship but he will also be helping TKR with the mentoring of the selected Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) Development Academy driver/drivers.
“I am really looking forward to the season ahead with TKR in the NZV8 Touring Car Championship, I love racing on home soil and I admire what Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) has provided Kiwi drivers over the year’s both domestically and internationally,” said Baird
“This exciting opportunity with Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) also allows for me to share my motorsport knowledge with the selected Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) Development Academy driver/s, Team Kiwi Racing (TKR) is looking to support both domestically and internationally.”
Baird last drove for TKR in 2004 and 2005 when he was the team’s driver in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship during which time Baird secured TKR’s first ever V8 Supercar pole positon at Winton Raceway. A significant milestone many V8 Supercar teams never achieve.
More recently Baird assisted TKR when fellow Kiwi Andre Heimgartner made his international motorsport debut in the TKR Porsche 911 997 Carrera Cup Car in the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup Championship.
NZV8 TOURING CARS - 2014/15
CHAMPIONSHIP DATES/VENUES:
01-02 Nov 2014
Hampton Downs Waikato
28-30 Nov
2014 Pukekohe Park
Pukekohe
16-18 January 2015 Mike Pero
Motorsport Park Christchurch
23-25 January 2015
Teretonga Park
Invercargill
13-15 February 2015 Manfeild
Feilding
April 2015 V8SC -
TBC
Pukekohe
DRIVER BIO
Motorsport
achievements.
1974–1985
7 x New Zealand Karting
Champion
1986–1987 2 x Asia
Pacific Kart Champion
1987–1988
New Zealand Formula Ford Champion
1990–1991 New Zealand Formula
Atlantic Champion
1991
Winner - New Zealand Grand
Prix
1991–1992 New Zealand
Formula Atlantic Champion
1992
Winner - New Zealand Grand
Prix
1992–1993 New Zealand
Formula Atlantic Champion
1993
Winner - New Zealand Grand
Prix
1993–1994 New Zealand
Touring Car Champion
1994–1995
New Zealand Touring Car Champion
1995–1996 New Zealand Touring
Car Champion
1996
Winner - Bathurst 1000 (Super Touring
Class)
1996–1997 New Zealand
Touring Car Champion
1997
Winner - Bathurst 1000 Super Touring Car Event
Inducted
to the NZ Motorsport Wall of Fame
2000
Winner - NZ Tranzam Championship
Winner -
Phillip Island round V8 Supercars
2006
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
Champion
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge NZ
Champion
2007 Porsche
GT3 Cup Challenge NZ Champion
Porsche Carrera Cup
Australia – 3rd
Winner – Bathurst 12 Hour Endurance
event
2008 Porsche Carrera Cup
Australia Champion
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge NZ Champion
Winner - Dubai 24 Hour (Porsche
911)
2009 Porsche GT3
Cup Challenge NZ Champion
2009/2010
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge NZ
Champion
2010 Winner -
New Zealand Jim Clark Trophy
Winner - New Zealand Gold
Star Trophy
2011 Porsche
Carrera Cup Australia
Champion
2012
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
Champion
2013 Porsche
Carrera Cup Australia Champion
2014
TBA
TEAM BIO
• Jason
Richards, 1st 2.0ltr Touring Car Championship x 2. First TKR
V8 Supercar driver. Podium v8 Supercar finish Canberra.
• Angus Fogg, 2nd 2.0ltr Touring Car Championship x 2.
Joint first TKR V8 Supercar driver debuting Bathurst 2000
with J.Richards.
• Rhys McKay, L/K 500
Winner.
• Craig Baird, First Pole Position for TKR in
the V8 Supercar Championship.
• Mark Porter, 3rd V8
Supercars Development Series.
• Ryan Bailey, 2nd BMW
Mini.
• Ben Dallas, 1st BMW Mini.
• Matthew
Hamilton, 1st BMW Mini.
• Matthew Gibson, 3rd BMW
Mini.
• Craig Innes, 2nd BMW Mini.
• Nick Ross,
5th NZV8 Championship.
• Andy Booth, 1st NZV8
Championship.
• John McIntyre, 3rd
NZV8’s.
• Daniel Gaunt, Debut V8
Supercars.
• Fabian Coulthard, N/A.
• Chris
Pither, Debut V8 Supercars.
• Paul Radisich, Podium V8
Supercars China. Top 10 V8 Supercar finishes.
• Kayne
Scott, Debut V8 Supercar Championship.
• Shane van
Gisbergen. Debut V8 Supercar Championship.
• Andre
Heimgartner. Rookie of the year Porsche Carrera Cup
Australia. Debut Australian drive.
• Shea Davies.
Rookie of the year Porsche Carrera Cup
Australia.
• Adam Gowans. Multiple Pole position starts
and podium finishes in elite class with 3 race wins from 3
race starts at the great race, Bathurst, Mount
Panorama.
•
There are so many other key
achievements by TKR such as multiple back to back
championship titles and race wins, three wins from three
starts at Bathurst in the TKR Porsche Carrera Cup car 2013,
not to mention simply being the first ever Kiwi team to
compete in the Australian V8 Supercar
Championship.