Baird honoured in Motorsport awards

Triple X Motorsport press release:

For immediate release: 25th May 2009.

Baird honoured in Motorsport awards

Championship winning Triple X Motorsport driver Craig Baird has been honoured at the annual MotorSport New Zealand awards last Saturday evening. Baird scooped the prestigious Jim Clark Trophy, a Special Citation Award and his unprecedented fifth consecutive NZ Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge title.

Baird’s citation was ‘in recognition of being New Zealand motorsport’s most prolific and successful racing driver’ – a position backed up with statistics that rank him as one of the most victorious drivers in the world.

Having previously won the Jim Clark Trophy in 1992, its decoration is for a sportsman like attitude to the sport and fellow competitors, and a natural ability in putting up the most meritorious racing performance during the season. In memory of successive 1960’s Tasman Champion Jim Clark; Baird is in close company with other multiple recipients including Scott Dixon, Ken Smith and Greg Murphy.

The 38-year-old Gold Coast based Kiwi started out as a four-year-old in karts; with a career totaling 21 New Zealand championship titles, three New Zealand Grand Prix wins and two Australian titles – in all manner of cars.

Triple X Motorsport shareholder; Mike Morton said Baird’s award was a special moment for the team, who in two short years have two New Zealand titles with him.

“We’re very proud of Craig’s achievement. The citation echoes our team ethos and that’s been recognised this year by MotorSport New Zealand with this prestigious award for his achievements,” said Morton.

“Leading our team to a one-two-three championship finish in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge didn’t come easy and illustrates his fortitude. We’re pleased to share this time with him.”

This caps off another successful season for Baird and his Auckland based Triple X Motorsport team. Baird won the 2008-2009 New Zealand Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge title for the fifth time, plus the series Hard Charger of the year for passing the most cars in all races.

Absent from the awards evening – Baird was instead competing in the annual 24 hours of Nurburgring race, through Germany’s Eifel region.

Again committed to racing for Triple X Motorsport in the Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup series in the coming season, Baird is also intending a second season in the NZ V8 category, while endeavouring to enter the speedway scene in a midget.

ENDS

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