Denny Hulme of Te Puke won the 1967 Formula 1 world drivers' championship.
Hulme, son of Alfred Hulme who was awarded the VC for valour in the battle of Crete in 1941, secured the title with a third place in the Mexico Grand Prix, finishing five points ahead of team-mate Australian Jack Brabham.
Hulme remains the only New Zealander to have been world F1 champion. It was the high point of a brilliant career which included Can-Am racing as well as 112 starts in F1 for eight victories and 33 places.
"He was a remarkable ambassador for both motorsport and New Zealand," said Phil Kerr, who was McLaren Formula 1 manager when Hulme raced with that team.
For going where no Kiwi has gone before - or since - Denny Hulme is our New Zealander of the Year for 1967.
