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TIM SCHENKEN – OUR FORGOTTEN HERO

Tim Schenken - Our Forgotten Hero

By Bruce Williams

Tim Schenken - Our Forgotten Hero

Tim Schenken – Our Forgotten Hero

You know the voice. The slightly English accent resonates over the airwaves as Tim Schenken orders the deployment of a safety car or calls a race stoppage in Supercars.

By MARK FOGARTY

Schenken has been the race director of Australian championship touring car racing since 1987. Fans love him or hate him, depending on their allegiance. They see him as a manipulator of the results in times of contention.

They are, of course, wrong. Schenken runs races according to the book – which he helped write – and despite Jamie Whincup’s famous ‘red wine’ jibe, is dedicated to fair play.

What most fans don’t know is that Schenken is one of Australia’s most celebrated international drivers. He competed in F1 and drove for Ferrari in the sports car world championship 50 years ago.

Yes, 50. Five O. Among the tifosi in Italy, he is revered as a former Ferrari pilot.

Most significantly, ‘Schenks’ is one of just five Australians who have stood on an F1 podium. Driving for Brabham the year after its namesake founder retired, he finished third in the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix, held at the then fearsome Osterreichring (now the emasculated Red Bull Ring).

He joins Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo in that elite Aussie group.

A senior motor racing official since he returned to Australia in 1984, Schenken has also been the long-time Clerk Of Course of the F1 Australian GP and remains a senior FIA track inspector.

Before he turned 75, the age limit for FIA office bearers, he was president of the world governing body’s circuit safety commission, a member of the touring car commission, Formula E permanent steward and Clerk Of Course of the F1 Korean and Singapore GPs, whose officials were trained by Motorsport Australia.

Schenken is a bon vivant and raconteur. At 77, he remains active, acute and enthusiastic. Half German himself, Schenken met his charming wife Brigitte after winning an F2 race at Hockenheim in 1972.

“I won the race and I won the girl,” he recalls. “Pretty cool.”

We met over lunch near his home in inner Melbourne to recount the side of his colourful and illustrious career that all but dedicated enthusiasts won’t know.

Even if you do, it’s well worth remembering how good a driver he was and why he is Australia’s only Ferrari hero.

The rest of the article including an in-depth interview can be found inside Auto Action 1803, available right now.

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