Gallery: Drivers from New Zealand in Formula 1

Bruce McLaren (1959-1970)

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He is undoubtedly the best known New Zealand driver in the history of Formula 1. His legacy still lives on in Formula 1 with the team he founded and that bears his name, McLaren. He was also the first winner from Oceania in Sebring in 1959 at the age of 22 years.

Photo by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

Bruce McLaren (1959-1970)

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Starts: 98

Wins: 4

Constructors: Cooper, McLaren, Eagle

Best season result: second, in 1960

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Tony Shelly (1962)

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Shelly, who owned a BMW dealership in Honolulu, began motorsport in 1955. He drove mostly in New Zealand before pitting his skills in Europe in 1962. He started just one F1 GP in Great Britain in a Lotus 18 as a privateer. He then went back to his country and competed occasionally.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Chris Amon (1963-1976)

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His long-lived career in F1 was marked by an unfortunate event that saw him miss a win. While he was leading the Italian Grand Prix in 1971, the full visor of his helmet came off and he lost the win. He had a good F1 career and even won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1966 with Bruce McLaren.

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Chris Amon (1963-1976)

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Starts: 96

Poles: 5

Constructors: Lola, Lotus, Cooper, Ferrari, March, Matra, Tecno, Tyrrell, Amon, BRM, Ensign

Best season result: second, in 1960

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Denny Hulme (1965-1974)

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Although he is often forgotten while world champions are mentioned, Hulme was the only one from his country to have won the world title. His only title was in 1967 and the season had Jack Brabham and Jim Clark also competing.

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Denny Hulme (1965-1974)

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Starts: 112

Poles: 1

Victories: 0

Constructors: Brabham, McLaren

Best season ranking: Champion, in 1967

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Howden Ganley (1971-1974)

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After driving in Formula 5000, where he was spotted by BRM and signed up for the 1971 season. He remained there for two seasons before moving on to the small team of Frank Williams then in March, 1974. That year, he suffered a severe crash at the Nurburgring and broke both ankles. He did not return to F1.

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Howden Ganley (1971-1974)

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Starts: 35

Constructors: BRM, Iso-Marlboro, March

Best season ranking: 13th, in 1972

Photo by: Lucien Harmegnies

Graham McRae (1973)

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McRae first drove in Oceania, including the Tasman Series. He then moved to Europe with the F5000, a series he preferred and where he would take on the early drivers of the 1970s like James Hunt and Jody Scheckter. He got just one opportunity to race in F1, for Frank Williams’ team for the 1973 Grand Prix of Great Britain. But his race was short-lived as he was caught in a first lap pile-up and retired. That year, he also recorded his only participation in the Indy 500.

Photo by: Sutton Images

Graham McRae (1973)

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Starts: 1

Constructors: Iso-Marlboro

Photo by: Motorsport Images

John Nicholson (1975)

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He was recruited by Bruce McLaren when he arrived in Europe and led the team's programmes in the Can-Am and Formula 5000 series. He then founded his own team, Nicholson-McLaren, that specialised in preparation of the Cosworth DFV V8 engines. These engines were widely used in F1 at that time. He was a good driver and also competed in Formula Atlantic in the United Kingdom and won the title in 1973 and 1974. He also competed at the British Grand Prix in 1975 in a Lyncar 006-Ford Cosworth. After qualifying 26th, he had to give up on lap 51 due to an accident when he was running 17th.

Starts: 1

Constructor: Lyncar

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Mike Thackwell (1980-1984)

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The last New Zealander to have raced in F1 is best known for having been the youngest driver to have started a GP at the age of 19. That was until Jaime Alguersuari (Hungary 2009) beat him by five months and 29 days at the 1980 Canadian GP.

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Mike Thackwell (1980-1984)