New Zealand

New Zealand where stockcars race in teams and follow-ins are the norm.

Humble Beginnings:

The UK & New Zealand link can be traced back to January 1974 when a UK team cobbled together by Chick Woodroffe raced at tracks throughout the North Island. The team comprised Stu Smith, Willie Harrison, Tony Neal, Tony Allen, Dave Chisholm and Chick himself.

It was a further 7 years before the first New Zealander raced in the 1981 F1 Stockcar World Final in the UK and it was another 6 years before a Brit was invited to race in the World 240ci Championships. Since those tentative beginnings a strong bond of friendship now exists between our two country's stockcar fraternities.

The UK's best export has been Frankie Wainman who has now won the 240ci world title twice.

The first major input by a Kiwi involved Russell Joblin bouncing out of the wires at Coventry in 1986, collecting Stu Smith and as a result, future NZ visitor Peter Falding won his first world title. Lyle Rumney has been the most sucessful Kiwi World Finalist with a 4th at Hednesford in 1995.

In recent times Neil McCoard especially and Peter Rees have proved they have what it takes. Neil won a Grand National at Skegness on shale. Peter Rees lived up to his reputation by taking out BriSCA's 21st century boys Andy Smith and Frankie Wainman Jnr in one hit at Belle Vue, Manchester.

Frequent visitors to New Zealand include Murray Harrison, John Lund, Mark Taylor as well as Netherlands drivers Durk Greidanus and Lou Wobbes. More recently Tom Harris and Stuart Smith (jnr) have paid a visit.

In 2009 the first UK team in recent times was entered into the Team Championships event comprising of Frankie Wainman, Stuart Smith, Tom Harris and Mark Taylor.

Fund raising has begun for the 2011 team. These funds are not used for driver's expenses but are used to underwrite safety equipment, car damage, team support, additional transportation, additional protective wear & promotional team handouts. For further information please visit the Team GB webpage

It is not only the F1 stockcars that have benefitted from the New Zealand link, the V8 stockcars have also been honoured by their presence. Two drivers in particular, NZ stockcar driver Graham McRobbie NZ11R in Matt Smith's car & Alan McRobbie NZ1 in the 575 car, making their presence felt, then there was also NZ 45R Nick Vallance hitting anything that moved, making the V8 British Open meeting a spectacle.

BriSCA World Final Visitors

1981: Warren McIntyre

1982: ?

1983: ?

1984: Dave Evans, Brian Anderson

1985: Dave Evans, Warren McIntyre, Ian Easton

1986: Russell Joblin, Grame Barr, (Warren McIntyre - not WF?)

1987: Promoter would not pay for NZ drivers

1988: Graeme Barr, Dave Evans, Dave Tennant

1989: Dave Tennant, Graeme Barr

1990: Barry Hunter, Paul Urlich, Graeme Barr

1991: Barry Podjursky, Gary Parkes

1992: Greg Johnstone, Frank van Vroonhoven

1993: Kevin Free, Bryce Penn

1994: Bryce Penn

1995: Lyle Rumney, Royden Collingwood, (Bob Smith - not WF?)

1996: Kim Lace, Rowan Yandle

1997: Stan Hickey, Dave Tennant (Kerry O'Connor - not WF?)

1998: Stan Hickey, Tony Whitaker

1999: Tony McLanachan, Rodney Wood, (Neil McCoard - not WF)

2000: Neil McCoard, Scott Miers

2001: Brian Musgrove, Barry Podjursky

2002: Neil McCoard, Darrel Manson

2003: Kerry Remnant, Rodney Wood?

2004: Kelvin Gray, Kerry Remnant

2005: Brendan Rowland, Scott Hewson

2006: Simon Joblin, Dale Ewers

2007: Peter Rees, Shane Penn

2008: Peter Bengston, Kyle Fraser

2009: Scott Miers, Malcolm Ngatai

2010: Scott Joblin, Adam Joblin,