The World Championship drivers — Where are they now?
by Richard Jenkins
| See also |
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Formula 3000 drivers Indy 500 drivers North American Racers World Championship team bosses |
I have endeavoured to try and provide as up-to-date and accurate information as possible for everyone featured on this site, and I am always indebted to the many contributors who help with the information on this site and sadly, space doesn't allow for me to thank everyone here. However, I would like to dedicate the ongoing work, progress and achievements on this site to those contributors who are sadly no longer with us but helped aide this project so much: Len Calinoff, Phil Harms, Gene Heeter, Earl Ma, Don Radbruch and Roscoe H Rann.
Updates and corrections are always welcomed — please either join the debate here or feel free to contact me on with any information you might have.
This part of the site is also dedicated to the memory of Tony Marsh, as it was his post-Grand Prix life that served as the initial inspiration for "Where Are They Now" back in 1998 For more about what this part of the site is trying to achieve, please read my full introduction.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| Name | Born | Died | Nat | Grands Prix | Biography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oswald Karch |
06 Mar 1917 Ludwigshafen |
28 Jan 2009 Mannheim |
D |
1 (1953) |
Died recently, after a period of ill health. Mainly raced F2 in East and West Germany. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Narain Karthikeyan |
14 Jan 1977 Madras |
|
IND |
19 (2005) |
Has been in a variety of series since F1, and most recently has appeared in NASCAR trucks and Formula Superleague. Also runs a couple of lower formulae teams in India, is a driver coach and does a number of PR/business ambassador roles in his home country. (Last updated 6 Apr 2010) |
| Ukyo Katayama |
29 May 1963 Tokyo |
|
J |
95 (1992-1997) |
Still races, albeit rarely, in either Paris-Dakar or sportscars, or more recently, Speedcars. Still climbs mountains (including Everest in 2001), but was lucky to survive a incident on Mount Fuji, in which 2 colleagues died. Successfully beat back cancer and Ukyo also runs a Japanese career/adventure support agency and has business interests, as well as appearing on TV. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Ken Kavanagh |
12 Dec 1923 Melbourne, Victoria |
|
AUS |
0 (1958) |
Now lives retired, in Bergamo, Italy, although his health has been poor recently. Ran a dry-cleaning business there for many years, retiring from racing after 1960. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Johnny Kay |
27 Dec 1922 New Britain, Connecticut |
10 Aug 2008 Marlboro, Connecticut |
USA |
0 (1953-1959) |
Midget driver ace, a popular driver who kept links with the sport for most of his life, mainly through his role as a racing photographer. Died recently after a long period of ill-health. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Rupert Keegan |
26 Feb 1955 Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex |
|
GB |
25 (1977-1982) |
Now back in the UK, often seen at historic events. Had a rapid rise to reach F1, but raced on for some years. Last raced competitively in 1995, in sports car racing, and then spent some time living in the USA. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Eddie Keizan |
12 Sep 1944 Johannesburg |
|
ZA |
3 (1973-1975) |
Ran, for a long time, Tiger Wheels and Tyres in Johannesburg, but the company went under a few years ago and Eddie is now retired. (Last updated 6 Apr 2010) |
| Al Keller |
11 Apr 1920 Alexander, New York |
19 Nov 1961 Phoenix, Arizona |
USA |
5 (1955-1959) |
Killed in an USAC Champ Car crash in a meeting at Arizona State Fairgrounds. A regular NASCAR driver, he took 2 wins in 1954, before his switch to Champ Cars for a long time. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Joe Kelly |
13 Mar 1913 Dublin |
28 Nov 1993 Neston, Cheshire, England |
IRL |
2 (1950-1951) |
Went on to run his Ferrari dealership in Ireland and did property development in Cheshire. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| David Kennedy |
15 Jan 1952 Sligo, Co. Sligo |
|
IRL |
0 (1980) |
Qualified and raced in the banned Spanish GP. Raced until the late 1980's - now works as journalist and works in a number of different media. He is also advisor to the Irish duo of Richard Lyons and Ralph Firman, and is a shareholder in the Status GP3 team. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Loris Kessel |
01 Apr 1950 Lugano |
15 May 2010 Montagnola |
CH |
3 (1976-1977) |
Sadly died in 2010, after a period of ill-health. He still ran his teams in numerous GT and endurance series until ill-health, and was also an official Ferrari dealer and he ran a large squad of Ferrari challenge cars. He also liked to restore the F1 cars that he drove in. Son Ronnie will take over much of the operation after Loris' passing. (Last updated 7 Jul 2010) |
| Bruce Kessler |
23 Mar 1936 Seattle, Washington |
|
USA |
0 (1958) |
Has long been involved in the trawler industry after his driving career ended after a series of heavy crashes, although he is now retired. He was also a very respected TV director, as he can list shows like Knight Rider, The A-Team, Ironside, I Dream of Jeannie, Rockford Files and Diagnosis Murder, amongst many others, to his credit. Now retired, he was also a skeet and trap shooter. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Nicolas Kiesa |
03 Mar 1978 Copenhagen |
|
DK |
5 (2003) |
Progressed to F1 in 2003, but was not kept on. Worked as a TV commentator in Denmark and enjoyed some fun as a top driver in 'Drift Challenges'. Made a return in a F1 car with Minardi in 2005 and later became test driver for the team, before moving to Jordan as their 3rd driver. Now in sportscars but also runs, tests and works on his own GAR car, and as well as still doing drift and drag racing, also works as a tuner and mechanic. He also runs his own garage and is an importer of Japanese cars, although he also supplies parts as well and he also works on these as well as his media commitments and his corporate event drives. In addition to all this, he also runs a motocross team! Now also based in Switzerland. (Last updated 6 Apr 2010) |
| Leo Kinnunen |
05 Aug 1943 Tampere |
|
SF |
1 (1974) |
Was involved in Finnish motor sport, mostly in administration. Lives in Lieto, but is currently in very poor health. (Last updated 6 Apr 2010) |
| Danny Kladis |
10 Feb 1917 Crystal City, Missouri |
26 Apr 2009 Joliet, Illinois |
USA |
1 (1954) |
Died after a long battle with ill health, which stopped him attending events. Until his death, he was the oldest living Indy 500 starter. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Russ Klar |
27 Apr 1914 Brooklyn, New York |
16 Feb 2005 Lynbrook, Long Island, New York |
USA |
0 (1955) |
Made occasional visits to vintage meetings, until his death. Raced from the 1930's onwards and raced competitively until his 60's, finally retiring for good in 1983. Mainly in midget cars by far, but also raced in sprints, modified and NASCAR modified's. Died after a long illness. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Hans Klenk |
28 Oct 1919 Kunzelsau |
24 Mar 2009 Vellberg |
D |
1 (1952) |
Died recently. Until the late 1970's, Hans was involved in car building. He kept links to the sport via historic festivals and interviews and also flew (he was a fighter pilot in WW2) and sailed. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Christian Klien |
07 Feb 1983 Hohenems, Vorarlberg |
|
A |
47 (2004-2006) |
Made a rapid rise up the ranks to become Jaguar's F1 driver in 2004. Switched to the re-branded Red Bull outfit in 2005 and 2006, but dropped for 2007, and went to Honda as a test driver, before joining BMW in the same role in 2008 and 2009, as well as racing in sportscars. Still hasn't got a permanent F1 drive so he is still racing sportscars in 2010, although he is now Hispania's test and reserve driver. (Last updated 7 Jul 2010) |
| Karl Kling |
16 Sep 1910 Giessen |
18 Mar 2003 Gaienhofen |
D |
11 (1954-1955) |
The oldest GP driver until his recent death, he made a return to the F1 paddock at the Nurburgring to compare his Mercedes with then occupants of the 1996 spec, Hakkinen and Coulthard. His last public appearance was in 2000, to celebrate his 90th birthday. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Ernst Klodwig |
23 May 1903 Aschersleben |
15 Apr 1973 Hamburg |
D |
2 (1952-1953) |
East German stalwart mainly in the national F2 series, where he was competitive despite his age. |
| Ray Knepper |
22 Feb 1920 Belleville, Illinois |
15 Feb 2000 Lebanon, Illinois |
USA |
0 (1951) |
Dirt track and midget star with a few wins in the 1950's. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Kamui Kobayashi |
13 Sep 1986 Amagasaki |
|
J |
11 (2009- ) |
Raced for Toyota in the last two races of 2009 and impressed. This led to a drive with Sauber in 2010 in F1. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Helmut Koinigg |
03 Nov 1948 Vienna |
06 Oct 1974 Watkins Glen Circuit, New York State, USA |
A |
2 (1974) |
Killed in a horrible accident in the US GP. Formula Vee regular who managed to get the funds to race in Formula 1 before it all ended tragically. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Heikki Kovalainen |
19 Oct 1981 Suomussalmi |
|
SF |
61 (2007- ) |
F1 driver, now with Lotus after spells with McLaren and Renault. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Mikko Kozarowitzky |
17 May 1948 Helsinki |
|
SF |
0 (1977) |
Despite talent at tennis, Mikko moved into motorsport. Now lives in Sittard in Holland, where he runs a business and plays golf. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Willi Krakau |
04 Dec 1911 Felgeleben (now Schoenebeck, Elbe) |
26 Apr 1995 Peine |
D |
0 (1952) |
Competed in the 1936 Olympics as a rower and was a keen and varied sportsman, as he also swam, sailed and ski-ied. An engineer, he was very good at sportscars and F2. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Rudolf Krause |
30 Mar 1907 Oberreichenbach |
11 Apr 1987 Reichenbach |
D |
2 (1952-1953) |
East German racer who was a rarity at the time as he did not defect to the West to further his racing career. Mostly raced BMW's in speed events and rallies. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Robert Kubica |
07 Dec 1984 Krakow |
|
PL |
66 (2006- ) |
BMW's F1 driver for a long spell, he is now with Renault in F1. |
| Kurt Kuhnke |
30 Apr 1910 Stettin (now in Poland) |
08 Feb 1969 Braunschweig |
D |
0 (1952-1953) |
A pre and post war motorcyclist, he later ran motorcycle clubs in the 1940's and 1950's. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Masami Kuwashima |
14 Sep 1950 Kumagaya |
|
J |
0 (1976) |
Later worked as a team director in the Japan GT Championship in the early 2000's. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
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