Ken Kavanagh

Thomas Kenrick “Ken” Kavanagh (12 December 1923 – 26 November 2019) was an Australian motorcycle Grand Prix racer and racing driver whose greatest achievements came on two wheels.

Driver Bio

Nationality	Australian
Birthplace	Melbourne, Australia
Born	12 December 1923
Died	26 November 2019
First Grand Prix	1958 Monaco Grand Prix
Last Grand Prix	1958 Belgian Grand Prix
Years Active	1958
Current/Last Team	Privateer: Ken Kavanagh Maserati

In 1952, Kavanagh won the 350cc Ulster Grand Prix to become the first Australian rider to claim a motorcycle Grand Prix victory. He added another major prize in 1956, winning the Junior TT at the Isle of Man.

Kavanagh later turned his attention to Formula One, entering two Grands Prix in 1958 with his privately owned Maserati 250F. He failed to qualify in Monaco, then secured 20th place among 28 entrants in Belgium—only for an engine failure during practice to prevent him from starting the race.

Grand Prix Stats

Race Entries	2
Race Starts	0
Did Not Start	1
Best Race Start	DNQ/DNS
Best Race Finish	DNQ
Retirements	0
First-Lap Retirements	0
Not Classified	0
Disqualified	0
Did Not Qualify	1

Qualifying

Qualifying Sessions	1
Reached Q3	0
Q2 Eliminations	0
Q1 Eliminations	0
Did Not Qualify	1

Stats by Season

Year	Constructor	Entries	Starts	Wins	Podiums	Poles	Fastest Laps	Front Rows	DNF	Best Start	Best Result	Pts Finishes	Points	Championship
1958	Privateer: Ken Kavanagh Maserati	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Never classified

Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head

Teammate	Years	Races	Qualifying H2H
Luigi Taramazzo	1958	1	–