Wayne Gardner

Wayne Gardner
Wayne Gardner
Born	October 11, 1959 (age 67); Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)	Motorcycle racer, Touring car racer
Years active	1983–1992 (motorcycle racing), 1993–2002 (touring car racing)
Known for	1987 500 cc World Championship winner, first Australian to win premier class motorcycle world championship

Wayne Michael Gardner (born 11 October 1959) is an Australian ex-professional competitor in both motorcycle and touring car racing. His Grand Prix motorcycle career spanned from 1983 to 1992, predominantly representing the Honda factory team. In 1987, he became the first Australian to claim the premier 500 cc world championship, earning the moniker The Wollongong Whiz.

Following his motorcycle racing tenure, Gardner transitioned to touring car competitions between 1993 and 2002. His two sons, Remy and Luca, have also pursued careers in motorcycle racing.

Motorcycle racing career

Originating from Wollongong, New South Wales, Gardner launched his racing journey in 1977 at age 18, piloting a used Yamaha TZ250 in the Australian championship. He secured a runner-up position at Amaroo Park and soon achieved victory at Oran Park. By 1981, he was part of Mamoru Moriwaki’s squad, competing on Moriwaki Kawasaki Kz1000 motorcycles within the Australian Superbike championship. Alongside teammate John Pace, Gardner clinched pole position at the distinguished 1981 Suzuka 8 Hours, outperforming several prominent factory outfits.

With assistance from Graeme Crosby, Gardner advanced into European circuits, receiving sponsorship to ride Kawasakis in the British Superbike championship. He made a notable impression by finishing fourth at the 1981 Daytona Superbike race and subsequently won his inaugural British championship event. Although an engine misfire prevented him from securing the title, his strong performance earned him a contract with Honda Britain. In 1982, he placed fourth overall in the Formula TT championship.

Gardner’s Grand Prix debut in the 500 cc class came at the 1983 Dutch TT under Honda Britain’s banner but was marred by a serious collision involving reigning champion Franco Uncini. He failed to score points that season; however, he captured the British 500cc national championship in 1984 and accumulated points in all five Grand Prix outings that year, concluding seventh in the standings.

These achievements led to full factory backing from Honda-HRC in 1986 alongside teammate Freddie Spencer. Gardner secured his first Grand Prix victory at the 1985 Spanish GP and added two more wins that season, finishing as runner-up to Eddie Lawson in the championship. The following year, he dominated with seven victories to claim the 500 cc World Championship—the first Australian to achieve this feat—sealing the title at Goiânia in Brazil. His race engineer during this period was fellow Australian Jeremy Burgess.

In 1988, Gardner encountered difficulties managing the challenging Honda NSR500 but still managed four Grand Prix wins, ultimately finishing second behind Lawson once more. Mechanical problems thwarted a probable fifth victory at France’s Paul Ricard Circuit.

Gardner’s world championship triumph significantly increased Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s profile in Australia, contributing to the establishment of the inaugural Australian GP at Phillip Island in 1989. He triumphed on home soil there ahead of competitors Wayne Rainey and Christian Sarron. Unfortunately, a broken leg sustained during a crash at Laguna Seca sidelined him for half of that season. From 1985 onward, Gardner competed for Rothmans Honda alongside Michael Doohan and Eddie Lawson.

The 1990 season proved frustrating; despite winning at Jerez, injuries forced him to miss three rounds and he finished fifth overall while successfully defending his Australian GP crown. Additionally, Gardner claimed victory four times at the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race (in 1985, 1986, 1991, and 1992).

After retiring from Grand Prix competition following the 1992 season, Gardner stayed involved in motorsport by mentoring emerging talents such as Daryl Beattie and participating in events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside notable racers including James Whitham and Damon Hill.

Four-wheel racing career

Wayne Gardner made his car racing debut during the final round of the 1990 Australian Drivers' Championship, piloting a Shrike 002 Formula Holden. Although his preparation was minimal, he qualified in 11th place but unfortunately crashed during practice, preventing him from competing in the race.

Upon retiring from 500 cc motorcycle competition in 1992, Gardner redirected his efforts towards touring car racing. His initial appearance was behind the wheel of a Raider Motorsport-prepared Bob Forbes Racing Holden VN Commodore SS Group A at the 1992 Tooheys 1000, where he finished 26th amid difficult wet conditions. That same year, he also participated in four German DTM races with the Jagermeister-backed Linder Team driving a BMW E30 M3 Sport Evolution, though with modest results.

In 1993, Gardner became part of the Holden Racing Team, driving a VP Commodore as the Australian Touring Car Championship entered its first season with 5.0-litre V8 engines. He secured victory in a Group A support race at the Australian Grand Prix and achieved third place at the Tooheys 1000 alongside co-driver Brad Jones. Nicknamed "Captain Chaos" due to several on-track incidents, Gardner experienced a brief suspension from the team amid discussions about establishing his own racing outfit.

Launching Wayne Gardner Racing in 1994 with Coca-Cola as sponsor, he teamed up with commentator Neil Crompton for three seasons. The squad encountered challenges, notably at the 1995 Bathurst event when both drivers crashed early; nevertheless, they rebounded to claim third place at that year's Tooheys 1000. Among Gardner’s notable achievements was winning the night race at the 1997 Calder Park V8 Supercar round.

After Coca-Cola withdrew an estimated $2 million yearly sponsorship to focus on the Sydney Olympics, Gardner Racing ceased operations partway through the 1999 season. Gardner remained active in V8 Supercars until 2002, earning pole position at the rain-soaked 2000 FAI 1000 Bathurst race and capturing victory in the opening round of the 1997 championship at Calder Park despite limited financial backing.

Between 1996 and his retirement in 2002, Gardner competed in Japan’s All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (Super GT), driving a factory-supported Toyota Supra for TOM's. He secured wins at Fuji Speedway in 1999 and Sportsland SUGO in 2001, completing every race within point-scoring positions during the 2001 season—a distinction unique among Toyota drivers.

Gardner also made a singular appearance at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Riley & Scott prototype alongside Philippe Gache and Didier de Radiguès. The team qualified in 26th position but retired after completing 155 laps due to engine failure.

Honours

After winning the 1987 500 cc World Championship, Gardner was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1988 Birthday Honours for his contributions to motorcycle racing.
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme honored him as a MotoGP Legend.
Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1991.
Recipient of the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
The main straight at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit bears his name as the Gardner Straight.

Grand Prix career statistics

Points allocation from 1969 to 1987:

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Points	15	12	10	8	6	5	4	3	2	1

Points allocation from 1988 to 1992:

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Points	20	17	15	13	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1

(key) (Bold = pole position; italics = fastest lap)

Year	Class	Team	Machine	Points	Rank	Wins
1983	500cc	Honda Britain	NS500	0	-	0
1984	500cc	Honda Britain	NS500	33	7th	0
1985	500cc	Honda Britain	NS500	73	4th	0
1986	500cc	Rothmans Honda-HRC	NSR500	117	2nd	3
1987	500cc	Rothmans Honda-HRC	NSR500	178	1st	7
1988	500cc	Rothmans Honda-HRC	NSR500	229	2nd	4
1989	500cc	Rothmans Honda-HRC	NSR500	67	10th	1
1990	500cc	Rothmans Honda-HRC	NSR500	138	5th	2
1991	500cc	Rothmans Honda-HRC	NSR500	161	5th	0
1992	500cc	Rothmans Honda-HRC	NSR500	78	6th	1

Suzuka 8 Hours Outcomes

Year	Team	Partner Rider	Motorcycle	Result
1985	Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Team HRC	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Wayne Gardner Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Masaki Tokuno	Honda RVF750 RC45	1st
1986	Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Team HRC	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Wayne Gardner Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Dominique Sarron	Honda RVF750 RC45	1st
1991	Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Oki Honda Racing Team	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Wayne Gardner Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Mick Doohan	Honda RVF750 RC45	1st
1992	Template:Country data JPN Template:Namespace detect showall Oki Honda Racing Team	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Wayne Gardner Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Daryl Beattie	Honda RVF750 RC45	1st

Automobile Racing Results

Year	Competition	Final Standing	Vehicle	Team
1993	Australian Touring Car Championship	14th	Holden VP Commodore	Holden Racing Team
1994	Australian Touring Car Championship	12th	Holden VP Commodore	Wayne Gardner Racing
1995	Australian Touring Car Championship	9th	Holden VR Commodore	Wayne Gardner Racing
1996	Australian Touring Car Championship	7th	Holden VR Commodore	Wayne Gardner Racing
1996	All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship: GT500 class	10th	Toyota Supra	Toyota Team SARD
1997	Australian Touring Car Championship	9th	Holden VS Commodore	Wayne Gardner Racing
1997	All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship: GT500 class	20th	Toyota Supra	Power Craft

Year	Competition	Final Position	Vehicle	Team
1998	All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship: GT500 class	17th	Toyota Supra	Team Power Craft
1999	All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship: GT500 class	12th	Toyota Supra	Toyota Team LeMans
1999	Shell Championship Series (V8 Supercar)	40th	Holden VT Commodore	Wayne Gardner Racing
2000	All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship: GT500 class	9th	Toyota Supra	Toyota Team LeMans
2001	All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship: GT500 class	6th	Toyota Supra	TOM'S (Toyota Team TOM'S)
2001	Shell Championship Series (V8 Supercar)	53rd	Ford AU Falcon	Larkham Motor Sport
2002	All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship: GT500 class	7th	Toyota Supra	TOM'S (Toyota Team TOM'S)
2002	V8 Supercar Championship Series	49th	Ford AU Falcon	Stone Brothers Racing

Full Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft Results

(legend) (Races shown in bold denote pole position) (Races in italics signify fastest lap)

Year	Team	Vehicle	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	Pos.	Points
1992	Linder Rennsport	BMW M3 Sport Evolution	ZOL 1	ZOL 2	NÜR 1	NÜR 2	WUN 1	WUN 2	AVU 1	AVU 2	HOC 1	HOC 2	NÜR 1	NÜR 2	NOR 1	NOR 2	BRN 1	BRN 2	DIE 1	DIE 2	ALE 1	ALE 2	NÜR 1 14	NÜR 2 Ret	HOC 1 16	HOC 2 Ret	NC	0

Complete Bathurst 1000 Results

Year

Team

Co-driver(s)

Vehicle

Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results

Year	Team	Co-drivers	Vehicle	Category	Completed Laps	Pos.	Class pos.
1993	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Palmer Tube Mills	Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Ian Palmer Template:Country data AUS Template:Namespace detect showall Ross Palmer	Honda NSX	C	253	3rd	1st

Complete Japanese GT Championship results

(key) (Races shown in bold denote pole position) (Races in italics signify fastest lap)

Year	Team	Vehicle	Category	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	DC	Points
1996	Toyota Team SARD	Toyota Supra	GT500	SUZ 17	FUJ 3	SEN 4	FUJ 9	SUG	MIN 8		10th	27
1997	Power Craft	Toyota Supra	GT500	SUZ	FUJ	SEN 7	FUJ 15	MIN	SUG 6		20th	10
1998	Team Power Craft	Toyota Supra	GT500	SUZ 8	FUJ C	SEN 10	FUJ 12	MOT	MIN Ret	SUG 7	17th	8

Esso Ultron Toyota Team LeMans

Toyota Supra

GT500

(Note: Detailed outcomes for the final seasons have been excluded to emphasize principal performance metrics.)

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-drivers	Vehicle	Category	Laps Completed	Pos.	Class pos.
1998	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Solution F	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Philippe Gache Template:Country data BEL Template:Namespace detect showall Didier de Radiguès	Riley & Scott Mk III Ford	LMP1	155	DNF	DNF

External links