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JIM RICHARDS: HALL OF FAMER
TOURING CAR LEGENDS Jim Richards and Mark Skaife will be inducted into the Australian Motor Sport hall of fame in 2017.
The pair were announced as the two newest inductees at a launch for the event held today at the Sydney 500.
The pair will be the newest additions to a list of 30 motor sport greats from all disciplines including Sir Jack Brabham Alan Jones and Mick Doohan.
The Australian Motor Sport Hall of fame is an initiative designed to recognise on and off-track contributors from every discipline of motorsport in Australia from Circuit Racing Motorcycling Speedway Drag Racing Rallying off-road and Karting.
Richards who still races in the Touring Car Masters series and Skaife – a TV commentator for FOX Sports – won three Bathurst 1000 races together amidst each having remarkably successful racing careers over multiple decades.
Richards is a seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner a four-time Australian Touring Car Champion and an eight-time winner of Targa Tasmania – his remarkable record also including wins in the Nations Cup NASCAR Porsche Carrera Cup and most recently two Touring Car Masters titles in 2010 and 2013.
Skaife is a five-time Australian Touring Car Champion a six-time Bathurst 1000 champion and a three-time Australian Drivers Champion in open wheelers.
Richards said he felt fortunate to be recognised for his remarkable racing career.
“When I set out racing back in New Zealand I never thought about accolades. I’ve been fortunate throughout my career to have raced alongside and against some of the best over my time†Richards said.
“Every win regardless of whether it was a Bathurst with Brock or a Targa Tasmania with Barry Oliver – my rally co-driver for nearly 25 years – is always enjoyable and winning is something that naturally you set out to do.
“Racing is as much about the relationships you build and I’ve been fortunate enough to have some great relationships with manufacturers throughout the years and being inducted into the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame is a nod to the people that have been around me. I’ve worked with and for the best in the business none more so than Mark Skaife. Not only is it an honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame but to be announced with my good friend makes it a bit more special.
“We had some memorable moments in the GT-R together – Championships and two Bathurst victories in ‘91 and of course ‘92.
“It is a great honour to be named as the first of the class of 2017 and I cannot wait to be at the induction ceremony on March 24 next year in Melbourne. Last year’s inaugural dinner was a great success and they tell me they have a few special things planned for March.â€Â
Tickets for the annual Hall of Fame gala – to be held in Melbourne on March 24 next year – are on sale and can be purchased via cams.com.au/awardstix.