Timothy 'Tim' Theodore Schenken has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division as part of the Queen’s Birthday honours.

Currently serving as Director of Racing Operations with the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport, Schenken was humbled to be formally recognised for his achievements in the sport.

“It’s a great honour and of which I am incredibly proud,” Schenken said.

“I feel privileged to have spent most of my life in motor sport in one capacity or another. Motor racing has been more than a job, it has been a great passion of mine.  

“Whether as a driver, team manager, constructor, official and in my role at CAMS, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing people and enjoy the challenges and changes in the sport over a long period of time.

“I would like to thank my family, particularly my wife Brigitte, for their constant support. I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues and friends at CAMS, the FIA and Supercars.”

Schenken was the first Australian driver after Jack Brabham to appear on a Grand Prix podium and score World Championship driver points, and continues to contribute to motor sport as a senior official and administrator in Australia and overseas.

After moving from Sydney to Melbourne with his family at the age 12, Schenken harboured aspirations of becoming a motor racing world champion. After starting his career aboard an Austin A30 in the early 1960s and winning the 1964 Australian Hillclimb Championship, Schenken made the move to Britain in 1965 to chase his Formula 1 dream.

Schenken is currently one of only five Australians to have scored points in the Formula 1 World Championship, having secured seven championship points and one career podium at the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix.

He has an outstanding international reputation representing Australia and CAMS across multiple international motor sport events, leading teams of volunteers in establishing foreign inaugural Formula 1 events and has served as Clerk of the Course for the Australian Grand Prix since 1988.

CAMS President Andrew Papadopoulos was pleased to hear of Schenken’s honour, and paid tribute to his varied career on and off the race track.

“We are extremely proud of Tim and all he has achieved,” Papadopoulos said.

“He has left an indelible mark on our sport.  Whether as an administrator, Race Director, Clerk of Course or Steward in Australia or overseas, Tim’s work has always been of the highest order.

“His contribution to Australian motor sport cannot be underestimated and it continues to this day. On behalf of CAMS and the Australian motor sport community, I offer my wholehearted congratulations to him and his family for this prestigious honour.” 

The Australian honours system recognises the achievements and contributions of Australians across a diverse range of fields and areas of endeavour, with the Order of Australia Medal recognising service worth of particular recognition.

Schenken will be personally awarded with the insignia of his award at an Investiture ceremony later this year.

Timothy Theodore Schenken Career Highlights
1970– 1974: Formula One Driver; raced in 35 F1 World Championship Grands Prix and driven for teams such as Brabham, Frank Williams Engineering, Ferrari and Lotus.
1968: British Formula Ford Champion.
1968: British Formula 3 Championship.
1969: French Craven A Formula 3 Series.
1971: 14th in F1 Drivers Championship, including a best result of 3rd in the Austrian Grand Prix and 6th in the German Grand Prix.
1972: 1st in World Championship for Makes, with wins in Buenos Aires 1000km and Nurburgring 1000km.
1971: 4th in European Formula 2 Championship.
1975: 3rd in Interserie Championship.
1975: 2nd in European GT Championship.
1976: 3rd in European GT Championship.
1976: 5th in Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft.
1977: 1st in International ADAC Nurburgring 1000-Kilometer-Rennen.
1976–1982: TIGA, a racing car manufacturer: co-partner and director.
1985–1987: Deputy Clerk of the Course, Australian F1 Grand Prix.
1987–1996: Race Director, Australian Touring Car Championship.
1988–current: Clerk of the Course , Australian Grand Prix.
1993­–current: Chairman, Australian F1 Grand Prix Organising Committee.
1997–current: Race Director, Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.
2002–current: Director, Racing Operations, Confederation of Australian Motor Sport.
2002–2015: Director, South Australian Motor Sport Board.
2002–current: Member, FIA Touring Car Commission.
2010–current: Vice-President, FIA Circuits Commission.
2010–current: International Steward, FIA World Touring Car Championship.
2014–current: Member of the panel of Permanent Stewards, FIA Formula E Championship.