Jason Richards

Jason John Richards (10 April, 1976 – 15 December, 2011) was a New Zealand racing driver who won multiple championships throughout his homeland in New Zealand and competed in the V8 Supercar Championship Series in Australia from 2000 to 2010.

After the success found in the New Zealand Touring Car Championship, he moved to Australia to pursue a career in the Australian-based V8 Supercar Championship Series. Richards made his debut in the 2000 Bathurst 1000 with Team Kiwi Racing and would make his full-time debut in the category with them for 2001. He moved to Team Dynamik for 2003 before settling at Tasman Motorsport for 2004. Despite lacking funding of the top teams, Richards demonstrated his abilities through a series of very strong drives. Including podiums in both 2005 endurance events at Sandown and Bathurst. His first and only win the category came in the reverse-grid race at Winton in 2006. In 2009, he moved to Brad Jones Racing where he achieved his first pole position at Hidden Valley in 2009. Later that season, he would finish second in the Bathurst 1000 with Cameron McConville.

Toward the end of 2010, Richards was diagnosed with cancer which brought his racing career to an abrupt halt. He continued to race sporadically up until his death just over a year later. The racing community continue to pay tribute to the Kiwi with initiatives such as the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy which is awarded annually.