Steven Kane
Encyclopedia
Steven Kane is a Northern Irish
racing driver who currently competes in the American Le Mans Series
(ALMS).
, County Down
was voted McLaren Autosport
BRDC Young Driver of the Year in 2001 (earning a test with the McLaren Formula One
team), after winning the Junior Formula Ford
Zetec championship by taking 8 wins and 4 runners-up spots in 12 races. From 2003 to 2005 he competed in Formula Three
; finishing as runner-up in the Scholarship class (for year-old cars) of the 2003 British Formula Three Championship
, finishing 3rd overall in Spain in 2004, and in 2005 he was 9th in the main British F3 championship. That year he took 3 poles and a win, despite the deal only coming together a day before the season began. At the end of 2005 he became the first driver ever to race a Lola at the Macau
Formula Three race. He then raced in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, with a best result of 2nd.
For 2007 he moved into the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, finishing 3rd overall and fighting for the title until the final round, with a series-high seven wins, including pole position at Thruxton
.
In 2008 he competed in the BTCC, driving a BMW
for the Motorbase Performance
team. He started the year strongly, finishing 8th on his debut and later taking a 6th place at Rockingham Motor Speedway
after a tough weekend. At Croft
he ran 4th for a while, but dropped out with an electrical problem on the final lap. His first podium finish came at the next meeting at Snetterton
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69136. At the next meeting at Oulton Park
, he qualified 15th before advancing to 9th in race 1, and from 9th on the grid to 4th in race 2, before being eliminated from race 3 after a first-lap hit from Tom Chilton
.
He did not return to the BTCC for 2009. He is the series test driver for the new FIA Formula Two Championship
, and co-commentator alongside Martin Haven on Eurosport2's coverage of the championship.
On September 26, 2009 he was a guest driver in the Kumho BMW Championship
at Oulton Park
. He qualified first in both qualifying sessions, and won both races. He was later punished with two points on his racing license after he was deemed by the stewards to have taken out another competitor on purpose.
Kane returned to the BTCC with the Airwaves BMW
team for the 2010 season, partnering Mat Jackson
. Kane won his first BTCC race at Thruxton
on 4 April 2010 when he completed a one-two for Airwaves BMW in race three. He finished sixth overall at the end of the 2010 season with 169 points.
On 15 June 2011, it was announced that Kane would pilot a Lola-Mazda
prototype for Dyson Racing
in the American Le Mans Series
, partnering with Humaid al-Masaood. He and al-Masaood finished 3rd overall (and 3rd in the LMP1 class) in each of their first two ALMS events at Lime Rock Park
and Mosport. Kane and al-Masaood claimed their first overall victory at the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix
.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
racing driver who currently competes in the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
(ALMS).
Career
Kane, who was born in NewtownardsNewtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
was voted McLaren Autosport
Autosport
Autosport is a weekly magazine covering motorsport, published in the United Kingdom every Thursday by Haymarket Consumer Media. It was first published on 25 August 1950 by Gregor Grant, immediately prior to the Silverstone International Trophy meeting of that year...
BRDC Young Driver of the Year in 2001 (earning a test with the McLaren Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
team), after winning the Junior Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
Zetec championship by taking 8 wins and 4 runners-up spots in 12 races. From 2003 to 2005 he competed in Formula Three
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
; finishing as runner-up in the Scholarship class (for year-old cars) of the 2003 British Formula Three Championship
British Formula Three Championship
The British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
, finishing 3rd overall in Spain in 2004, and in 2005 he was 9th in the main British F3 championship. That year he took 3 poles and a win, despite the deal only coming together a day before the season began. At the end of 2005 he became the first driver ever to race a Lola at the Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
Formula Three race. He then raced in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, with a best result of 2nd.
For 2007 he moved into the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, finishing 3rd overall and fighting for the title until the final round, with a series-high seven wins, including pole position at Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
.
In 2008 he competed in the BTCC, driving a BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
for the Motorbase Performance
Motorbase Performance
Motorbase Performance is an English motor racing team, founded in 2004 by former Production Saloon racer Dave Bartrum. They are best known for their British Touring Car Championship campaigns, which produced a first overall podium at the Snetterton meeting in 2008.-Porsche Carrera Cup Great...
team. He started the year strongly, finishing 8th on his debut and later taking a 6th place at Rockingham Motor Speedway
Rockingham Motor Speedway
Rockingham is the UK's most modern motorsport venue and Europe's fastest racing circuit, hosting corporate driving days, driver training, conferencing & exhibitions, vehicle manufacturing events, track days, testing, driving experiences and motorsport...
after a tough weekend. At Croft
Croft Circuit
Croft Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, England. The tarmac circuit is just over long and is based on the lands of an airfield, but has long since moved on from being a basic airfield circuit...
he ran 4th for a while, but dropped out with an electrical problem on the final lap. His first podium finish came at the next meeting at Snetterton
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Norfolk, England. Owned by MotorSport Vision, it is situated on the A11 road some 20 km north-east of the town of Thetford and 30 km south-west of the city of Norwich...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69136. At the next meeting at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
, he qualified 15th before advancing to 9th in race 1, and from 9th on the grid to 4th in race 2, before being eliminated from race 3 after a first-lap hit from Tom Chilton
Tom Chilton
Thomas James Chilton is a British auto racing driver. He has spent most of his career competing in the BTCC; he is a former factory Vauxhall and Honda driver. For 2011 he is driving an NGTC-spec Ford Focus for Team Aon...
.
He did not return to the BTCC for 2009. He is the series test driver for the new FIA Formula Two Championship
FIA Formula Two Championship
-Chassis:Named after both Jonathan Palmer and Patrick Head, the Williams JPH1 chassis and survival cell is of carbon fibre composite monocoque construction. The car was designed to comply with 2005 FIA F1 Safety Regulations. Head protection conforms to the latest 2009 F1 standards...
, and co-commentator alongside Martin Haven on Eurosport2's coverage of the championship.
On September 26, 2009 he was a guest driver in the Kumho BMW Championship
Kumho BMW Championship
The Kumho BMW Championship is a single make racing series based in the UK. Exclusively for BMWs, the championship is run by the BMW Racing Drivers Club in conjunction with the British Automobile Racing Club . The championship is a registered, BMW-exclusive motorsport series.-Introduction:The...
at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
. He qualified first in both qualifying sessions, and won both races. He was later punished with two points on his racing license after he was deemed by the stewards to have taken out another competitor on purpose.
Kane returned to the BTCC with the Airwaves BMW
Motorbase Performance
Motorbase Performance is an English motor racing team, founded in 2004 by former Production Saloon racer Dave Bartrum. They are best known for their British Touring Car Championship campaigns, which produced a first overall podium at the Snetterton meeting in 2008.-Porsche Carrera Cup Great...
team for the 2010 season, partnering Mat Jackson
Mat Jackson
Mat Jackson is an English racing driver.Jackson and his family-ran team contested the British Touring Car Championship in 2007 and 2008, in each case using the BMW Andy Priaulx used to win the previous year's World Touring Car Championship. Jackson run under the Jackson MSport banner in 2007, and...
. Kane won his first BTCC race at Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
on 4 April 2010 when he completed a one-two for Airwaves BMW in race three. He finished sixth overall at the end of the 2010 season with 169 points.
On 15 June 2011, it was announced that Kane would pilot a Lola-Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
prototype for Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team is one of the longest-running and most successful privateer racing organizations. Over the years, it has competed in IMSA GTO and GTP, SCCA Trans-Am,...
in the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
, partnering with Humaid al-Masaood. He and al-Masaood finished 3rd overall (and 3rd in the LMP1 class) in each of their first two ALMS events at Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock Park
Lime Rock Park is a natural-terrain motorsport road racing venue located in Lime Rock, Connecticut, United States, a hamlet in the village of Lakeville, Connecticut, in the state’s northwest corner...
and Mosport. Kane and al-Masaood claimed their first overall victory at the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix
Baltimore Grand Prix
The Baltimore Grand Prix is an IndyCar Series and American Le Mans Series race held on a street circuit in Baltimore, Maryland. The inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix was held September 4, 2011. The races are contested on a temporary street circuit around the Inner Harbor area of downtown Baltimore...
.