Mike Thackwell, the last Kiwi to race in Formula 1 before Brendon Hartley came along at the end of 2017, turns 63 today.
When he popped up on the scene, Mike was heralded as one of the greatest talents of his generation.
Although his skills were never up for debate, a non-conforming attitude towards the sport was perhaps partly responsible for a career in F1 that just never blossomed.
Before the current crop of teenage drivers came along, Thackwell actually held the record as the youngest driver to start an F1 Grand Prix.
A free spirit, Mike lives on the southern shores of Great-Britain where teaching and surfing are now his everyday life.
