FIVE-TIME Bathurst 1000 winner Steve Richards is heading to the SIXT Historic GP at Taupo – and he’s putting on his helmet to go racing.

Richards has purchased a Toyota-powered Formula Atlantic car to join in the celebration of Atlantics at the event on January 11-12 next year at Taupo Motorsport Park.

Originally a car from the United States, the 1993-model Reynard has been in New Zealand for some time, including a period during which it was owned by Tony Quinn.

Richards recently flew across to New Zealand to turn his first laps in his new acquisition at Timaru.

“One Saturday a few months ago the Historic GP at Taupo popped up on my news feed on my phone,” he says.

“I already knew about the event, but a light bulb moment led to asking some mates in New Zealand if they knew of any cars available. Two weeks later I was on a plane going to have a look at a car and then basically it was deal done, moments later!”

Richards is no stranger to open wheeler racing, having won the 1994 Australian Formula Ford Championship on his way up the racing ladder, however ‘wings and slicks’ cars are all new to him.

“The way my motorsport journey happened really sent me from Formula Ford straight into touring cars and it never really happened for me in open wheelers,” he says.

“I had the thirst, and I always wondered what it would be like to drive something with wings and slicks and some aerodynamic downforce. So, at 52 years of age, that’s what I’m doing!”

Richards’ only previous run in a ‘wings and slicks’ open wheeler came back in 1994, in a Formula 3 car at Snetterton. The test was teed up by Russell Ingall, who will also be coming to the Historic GP in January.

“I only came across a box of photos recently moving house and remembered that!” Richards says.

“That test was completely organised by Russell. It was an Alan Docking Racing car they’d run that year in the championship and I was over there for the Formula Ford Festival.

“I was staying with Russell for a few nights and he’d heard about a driver pulling out of a test and there was half a day available at no cost. I got in and did 30 or so laps at Snetterton. That’s really the only thing I’ve done in a car with wings and slicks!”

The 2025 event will be a celebration of all things Ford and Formula Atlantics with tickets on sale here now for the event (kids 16 and under are free), which will feature a range of star drivers and cars to be on hand, more of which will be confirmed in upcoming weeks and months.

Richards took two of his five Bathurst 1000 wins in Fords – in 1998 with Jason Bright for Stone Brothers Racing, and in 2013 with Mark Winterbottom for Ford Performance Racing.

A Ford All-Comers field race will be a highlight of the Historic GP alongside show and shines, demo laps, and the chance for fans to rub shoulders with Ford-associated celebrities who will be cutting laps and hosting meet-and-greets with fans throughout the event.

In addition to the celebrations of Ford and Formula Atlantics, the Historic GP will feature a variety of other historic categories that are being invited to compete, including saloon cars, muscle cars, touring cars and Formula 5000.

The Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship will be joining the event as a nod to the future as the iconic cars and stars of the past are remembered and celebrated.