THE KNIGHT FAMILY

The Knight family name has been synonymous with success in motorsport for over 50 years.

The legacy began when Peter Knight senior first experienced the thrill of powerboat racing on the Christchurch Estuary in 1957. Since that time the Knight name has been to the fore in many different motorsport endeavours.

The Boss, as he is known, excelled for 45 years in the sport of powerboat racing, accumulating more than 100 major championships plus numerous national and world speed records. Knight senior also had a brief flirtation with motor racing during the 1960’s racing a Ford Cyclone and Plymouth Fury with some success.

Knight’s son, P.G. Knight, followed his father into powerboat racing. Their careers overlapped as they both won title after title. When P.G. Knight ended his involvement with powerboats he had won over 50 South Island and New Zealand titles while he had also been the runner – up in the 1988 World Championship.

P.G. then turned his attention to motor racing, competing very successfully in the exciting TraNZam racing class.

In addition to their own achievements the Knight family has also been instrumental in running successful campaigns for others. When the Knight’s decided to make a challenge for the outright Women’s World Water Speed record Heather Spurle was brought on board. In 1990 she broke the record, one that she still holds today.

When health problems forced Peter Knight senior from the cockpit he offered former rival Selwyn Coker the opportunity to race Boss Mobil 1. Coker raced the boat for several seasons, winning the 2002 Masport Cup during that time.

Meanwhile P.G. Knight also put other drivers into the driver’s seat of his TraNZam saloons with young kiwi drivers John McIntyre and Shane Drake both benefiting from Peter Knight’s experience when racing across the Tasman.

The Knight name is now represented by Andy Knight, son of P.G. Knight. After a successful karting career Andy has raced in New Zealand, Australia and the United States since 2003 with great success. One of New Zealand’s best young drivers, Andy has finished in the top three of the country’s top single - seater motor racing series in the last two years. In his first racing appearance overseas the youngest Knight qualified on pole position in the United States.

After 50 years of ongoing success and with the arrival of Andy Knight on the scene it appears certain that the Knight Motorsport dynasty will continue to experience many more successes in the years to come.