Date of Birth:

11.07.72

Birthplace:

Auckland, NZ

Lives:

Melbourne

Marital status:

Married, Ange

Height:

182cm

Weight:

78kg

Children:

Clayton and Priya

Nickname:

Richo

Interests:

Riding motorbikes, wake-boarding

Personal vehicle:

FPV GTP

BIO

After a relatively late introduction to karting aged 15 Richo was quick to make up for lost time, using dad Jim Richards’ expert knowledge to guide him, and only narrowly missed out on a Bathurst podium on his debut, aged 23.

Not long after, his services were snapped up by the thriving British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), where he spent a year developing the Nissan entry in motorsport valley, UK.

EARLY HIGHLIGHTS

• 1994: Australian Formula Ford Champion
• 1995: Bathurst 1000 debut partnering Anders Olofsson; finished 4th and won the Denny Hulme Rookie of the Year Award
• 1996: Partnered dad Jim at Bathurst 1000 (DNF)
• 1997: Australian Super Touring Car Championship (against father Jim) and partnered double BTCC champion Matt Neal at the Bathurst 1000 (DNF)
• 1998: Full time test driver for the works British Touring Car Championship Nissan team

Following a year overseas, Richo staged a triumphant home-coming with victory at the most prestigious Australian race: the Bathurst 1000. He repeated the feat the following year, making him the only V8 driver to win back-to-back Bathurst races in both a Ford and a Holden.

That launched his full-time career in the V8 Supercar Championship Series where he racked up 18 round podiums before joining Ford Performance Racing in 2007.

V8 SUPERCAR HIGHLIGHTS

• 1998: Partnered Jason Bright to Bathurst 1000 victory
• 1999: Full time V8 Supercar Championship Series seat with Gibson Motorsport. Partnered Greg
Murphy to a second Bathurst 1000 victory
• 2000: Richo’s son, Clayton was born. He attended his first race at just five weeks old to see daddy win the round at Calder Park
• 2001: Joined Ford Tickford Racing
• 2002: Joined Team Perkins Racing won the inaugural Bathurst 24-hour race
• 2005: The only driver to qualify in the top ten for every race

FORD PERFORMANCE RACING

Steve signed for Ford Performance Racing at the start of 2007 and in 2008 renewed for three years.

In his time at FPR, Richo has scored 15 race podiums, including three race wins.

2009 was a tough year for Steve with only three podium finishes to show for his efforts – but he’s looking to fight back this season.