Craig Baird

Karting

Baird started racing karts in 1974 at the age of four. He achieved considerable success with four New Zealand titles and was a two-time Asia-Pacific champion.

Junior formula

Baird began his foray into racing cars in 1985 in the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. After two years of moderate success, he finally broke through for his first championship title in the 1987-88 season. The next season, Baird graduated to the New Zealand Formula Pacific Championship. After recording respectable results in his first full season, he competed on a part-time schedule for the next season where he recorded three wins from four appearances. The following year, he captured the title as well as the Motorsport New Zealand ‘Gold Star’ and won the New Zealand Grand Prix, driving a Swift DB4-Toyota. In 1992 and 1993, he dominated the championship, again attaining the New Zealand 'Gold Star' and would win the New Zealand Grand Prix twice more, thereby placing him equal-first for the most New Zealand Grand Prix victories by a single driver.

During the course of 1992, he also partook in a campaign in the British Formula Two Championship driving with Graham Lorrimer Motorsport. This proved to be less fruitful than his New Zealand exploits; finishing tenth overall and only nine points to his credit. In America, Baird made select appearances in the Formula Atlantic series in 1990 and 1993. However, his efforts were plagued by mechanical problems. He would also compete in the World Cup Formula 3000 in Buenos Aires. He retired from the event after 40 laps.

British Touring Car Championship

Despite the disappointment of the disqualification, Baird's performance had captured the attention of race teams overseas. Multiple teams from the British Touring Car Championship were in attendance and were keen to sign the Kiwi after the event. This included West Surrey Racing owner Dick Bennetts, who he was already familiar with owing to having tested Formula 3 machinery with in the past. He would eventually sign a two-year deal with West Surrey Racing to compete in the series starting from 1998, driving a Ford Mondeo. Despite early promise in pre-season testing at Donington in the previous years' Mondeo, the newer iteration used for the season proved to be uncompetitive owing to a lack of balance in the car thanks in part to the increased engine weight. Thus Baird struggled for results the entire year and was constantly changing his driving style in a bid to find improvements. However, the cars characteristics meant that it tended to excel more in wet weather conditions. He recorded a best result of sixth in the rain at Snetterton and led at Knockhill. His campaign was also intermittently interrupted by way of being subsidised for 1992 Formula One World Champion, Nigel Mansell in select rounds. After WSR lost the Ford contract for the 1999 season, Baird would leave Europe and returned to New Zealand.^[3]

V8 Supercars

Baird's first racing experience aboard a V8 Supercar came in the 1997 Primus 1000 Classic when he partnered Steven Johnson at Dick Johnson Racing. The pairing finished the race fourth albeit three laps down.

Baird made his championship debut in the category in the 1999 Queensland 500 as co-driver to Jason Bright at Stone Brothers Racing. The pairing placed their Ford Falcon on pole position for the event and were comfortably on course for victory on Sunday. However, mechanical issues forced them out of the race after 111 laps. They also demonstrated strong pace at the Bathurst 1000 but were once again overcome with mechanical issues. With Bright bound for the United States to compete in Indy Lights, this left a vacancy at Stone Brothers Racing. Following his performances in these events, Baird was promptly signed on a two-year deal as a full-time driver starting from the 2000 season.

The beginning of Baird's debut season showed tremendous promise. In the second race at the opening round at Phillip Island, Baird stormed from ninth on the grid to win the race by four seconds over Garth Tander. However, this ultimately proved to be the last time that Baird would finish on the podium in the category. After this event, Baird struggled for results for the remainder of the season and would be sacked mid-contract at the end of 2000.^[4] After losing his full-time drive for 2001, Baird paired with John Faulkner at the Queensland 500. For the Bathurst 1000, he would pair with Mark Noske to drive a Budweiser-sponsored entry run by Prancing Horse Racing. The team struggled for pace and would retire 27 laps into the event after Noske incurred a collision with Craig Lowndes at Forrest's Elbow.

In 2002, Baird would return to the series full-time. Signing with Rod Nash Racing which had formed an alliance with Peter Brock and ran under the Team Brock banner. Baird would team with Brock for the Bathurst 1000. However, they lacked pace and were plagued with mechanical issues. They finished 23rd and 25 laps down. In 2003, he moved to Team Kiwi Racing in search of greener pastures. However, the teams resources were lacking and the season passed without much note. Continuing with the team onto 2004, Baird continued to struggle with the lack of pace in the car although his racecraft did help him attain a handful of top ten finishes that year. The highlight of the season was a surprise pole position at Winton, in part thanks to changing conditions throughout the session.

Ahead of the 2005 season, Baird left Team Kiwi Racing for WPS Racing, marking his return to the Ford stable. The most noteworthy event to transpire for Baird that season was an accident that occurred during the final race at Pukekohe Park Raceway. At the end of lap 31, rain started to fall upon the circuit. This caught an array of drivers out and, in the ensuing chaos, Baird was spun by Paul Dumbrell and was sent into the wooden paddock fence used as part of the horse racing track. Baird retired from the race on the sport and the significant damage inflicted resulted in an extended red flag period. Following the conclusion of the 2005 season, WPS Racing would replace both Baird and teammate David Besnard with Jason Bargwanna and Brazilian driver, Max Wilson. With no other seats available elsewhere on the grid, this marked the last season where Baird would be a full-time driver in the V8 Supercar series.

Baird would be retained however, for the 2006 endurance events by WPS Racing. Partnering Bargwanna, achieving good results in both the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000. At the eleventh round in Tasmania, Baird would be afforded a one-off appearance for Team Kiwi Racing when he deputised for the injured Paul Radisich. Thereafter, Baird's racing resume in V8 Supercars was precluded purely to endurance co-driving duties. Competing with the Holden Racing Team, HSV Dealer Team, Stone Brothers Racing and Erebus Motorsport. Baird's final race in the category came in the 2016 endurance events, recording a 20th place finish in the second race at Surfers Paradise alongside main series driver, David Reynolds

Return to New Zealand

Beginning in 2008, Baird began racing in the New Zealand V8s series. Alongside his duties in the local Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Baird would drive full-time with Pedersen Sheehan Racing. He finished third overall for the season with four wins to his credit. He returned the next season for the same time, this time winning the title over John McIntyre. McIntyre would reclaim the title next season as Baird narrowly missed out on the title after a trouble last couple of rounds.

Baird would take part in the inaugural running of the newly-formed V8SuperTourer series with PSR Racing. He scored two sprint championship podiums at Ruapuna and a third-placing at the same venue in the endurance series. He returned to the series for the next season, achieving similar results. Having left the series after this, Baird returned the New Zealand V8s series for 2014–15 season. This time driving in the TL class with Team Kiwi Racing. He ran a limited schedule of six races, winning two and finishing seventh in the overall standings. In the 2015–16 season, he returned for select rounds with the same team, although this time driving in Class One. He recorded two wins at Taupō and Pukekohe.

Porsche Carrera Cup

Baird first exploits in Porsche Carrera Cup machinery came in the Porsche GT3 Cup Trans-Tasman held over the summer break at the end of 2003. He was a consistent front-runner and finished the championship in third place. At the end of 2004, while still competing in the V8 Supercar series, he made his debut in the Australian Carrera Cup Championship for Team VIP Petfoods.

Following the conclusion of his full-time V8 Supercar career the end of 2005, Baird signed on to compete in the Australian Carrera Cup Championship. Taking nine wins from 24 races, Baird proved to be the pacesetter and won the overall championship ahead of Alex Davison.

Career summary

Supercars Championship results

(Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Australian Carrera Cup Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1 point awarded all races) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (* signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap – 1 point awarded)

British Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1 point awarded all races) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (* signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap – 1 point awarded)

Note: No points were awarded for leading in the feature race at Knockhill.

Bathurst 1000 results

More information Year, Car# ...

Year	Car#	Team	Car	Co-driver	Position	Laps
1990	54	Diet Coke Racing	BMW 318i	Brett Riley	DNF	82
1994	45	Diet Coke Racing	BMW 318i	Brett Riley	11th	152
1997*	2	BMW Motorsport Australia	BMW 320i	Paul Morris	DSQ	161
1997	18	Dick Johnson Racing	Ford EL Falcon	Steven Johnson	4th	158
1999	4	Stone Brothers Racing	Ford AU Falcon	Jason Bright	DNF	145
2000	4	Stone Brothers Racing	Ford AU Falcon	Simon Wills	7th	161
2001	888	Prancing Horse Racing	Ford AU Falcon	Mark Noske	DNF	27
2002	05	Team Brock	Holden VX Commodore	Peter Brock	23rd	136
2003	021	Team Kiwi Racing	Holden VX Commodore	Mark Porter	17th	149
2004	021	Team Kiwi Racing	Holden VY Commodore	Mark Porter	DNF	129
2005	48	WPS Racing	Ford BA Falcon	David Besnard	8th	158
2006	10	WPS Racing	Ford BA Falcon	Jason Bargwanna	10th	161
2007	16	HSV Dealer Team	Holden VE Commodore	Paul Radisich	DNF	137
2008	2	Holden Racing Team	Holden VE Commodore	Glenn Seton	DNF	146
2009	22	Holden Racing Team	Holden VE Commodore	Paul Dumbrell	21st	153
2010	24	Walkinshaw Racing	Holden VE Commodore	Fabian Coulthard	DNF	0
2011	61	Walkinshaw Racing	Holden VE Commodore	Fabian Coulthard	DNF	13
2012	4	Stone Brothers Racing	Ford FG Falcon	Lee Holdsworth	8th	161
2013	4	Erebus Motorsport	Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG	Lee Holdsworth	14th	161
2014	4	Erebus Motorsport	Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG	Lee Holdsworth	DNF	132
2016	9	Erebus Motorsport	Holden VF Commodore	David Reynolds	18th	148

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* Super Touring race

Bathurst 12 Hour results

More information Year, Team ...

Year	Team	Co-drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Overall position	Class position
2007	Eastern Creek Karts P/L	Paul Morris Garry Holt	BMW 335i	A	257	1st	1st
2008	Eastern Creek Karts P/L	Paul Morris Garry Holt	BMW 335i	B	252	3rd	1st
2009	Wilson Brothers Racing	Lee Castle Rodney Forbes	Subaru Impreza WRX	C	65	DNF	DNF
2011	VIP Pet Foods Racing	Klark Quinn Tony Quinn	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup R	A	291	3rd	3rd
2012	Clearwater Racing	Matt Griffin Weng Sun Mok	Ferrari 458 GT3	A	268	3rd	3rd
2013	Clearwater Racing	Matt Griffin Weng Sun Mok	Ferrari 458 GT3	A	267	2nd	2nd
2014	Clearwater Racing	Matt Griffin Hiroshi Hamaguachi Weng Sun Mok	Ferrari 458 GT3	A	57	DNF	DNF
2015	M Motorsport	Justin McMillan Steven Richards	Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4	AP	129	DNF	DNF
2016	Darrell Lea	Klark Quinn Tony Quinn	McLaren 650S GT3	AA	171	DNF	DNF
2017	Scott Taylor Motorsports	Maro Engel Shane van Gisbergen	Mercedes AMG GT3	AA	283	DNF	DNF
2018	Scott Taylor Motorsports	Tony D'Alberto Max Twigg	Mercedes AMG GT3	APA	268	12th	6th

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