Kenny Smith, 77, about to race in grand prix No

Liam Lawson was still waiting to celebrate his second birthday when Kiwi motorsport legend Kenny Smith won his last New Zealand Grand Prix.

On Sunday, Lawson will contest the race for the first time and Smith – the 16-year-old’s mentor – will line up for an incredible 48th start in the grand prix.

The New Zealand Grand Prix will be the final act of the 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series (TRS).

Lawson, who is in first TRS campaign, holds a slender five-point lead over fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong heading into the final round at Manfeild.

And up against Lawson, Armstrong and all the other up-and-coming millennials will be 77-year-old Smith.

A member of MotorSport New Zealand’s Wall of Fame, Smith has won the grand prix three times (1976, 1990 and 2004).

Old enough to be the grandfather of any driver in the field, Smith will take on the longest race of the season – 35 laps around the 3km Manfeild circuit.

Smith, who last month re-set the outright lap record at Hampton Downs in his iconic Formula 5000 Lola, will race in all three TRS races over the weekend. A 20-lap event tomorrow is followed by a 15-lap race on Sunday morning ahead of the grand prix.

Smith, who has won single-seat races all around the globe, said it is just as much of a privilege to line up in the 2019 grand prix as it was in the first of his 47 previous races.

‘‘My aim is always to be as competitive as I can be and to drive as hard as I can against some fantastic drivers, and this year is no different,’’ Smith said.

‘‘What’s particularly exciting for me is to be competing in a field with two great young Kiwi drivers. Liam is a truly exceptional

‘‘My aim is always to be as competitive as I can be.’’ Kenny Smith, above

driver. A racer for whom winning is everything. He’s a bit old school in that regard and he has the talent to go all the way, no question. He’s got to improve a bit on his arm wrestling though, I can still beat him at that.

‘‘Marcus too is a very talented driver, I’ve watched him develop since his karting days and he, like Liam, is destined for great things. In my mind their battle and their rivalry has lifted both of them to exceptional heights in this championship.’’

Smith’s car will be identical to every other Toyota FT50 in the TRS field.

Armstrong, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, was in the box seat to take the title heading into the penultimate round, but failed to gain points in race two at Taupo¯ due to front suspension failure.

That proved to be a much-needed break for Lawson after the Pukekohe teenager crashed out and failed to finish the Motor Cup feature race at Hampton Downs the previous week.