Steven Richards began his motorsport career in go-karts at the age of 16, moving into Formula Ford three years later (1991). Two years later he won the Formula Ford Festival at Winton before taking the national title in 1994.

In 1995 he shared a Winfield Commodore at Bathurst with Anders Olofsson, his first outing at the circuit which was to bring him huge success.

The next year he debuted in V8 Supercar, driving for Garry Rogers and winning both the Privateers Championship in V8s and the Super Touring Car Championship in another Garry Rogers car. That year he also took out the Tooheys 1000 Rookie of the Year Award.

In 1998 he grabbed an opportunity to be test driver for the Nissan team in the British Touring Car Championship but returned at the end of the year to join forces with Jason Bright and win the coveted FAI 1000 (Bathurst) crown - in a Falcon.

The following year he switched marques and joined Wynns for a full season. At the end of 1999 he was again wearing the winner’s garland, this time sharing the honours with Greg Murphy. Last year they took third.

It would seem to be a career that was pre-ordained - after all, he is following in the footsteps of super-achieving dad, Jim Richards – but Steven says it was never that clear cut.

"Dad didn't really push me into driving at all. I pretty much developed a love of the sport just from being around it so much and seeing how much pleasure dad got out of it.

"Mind you, once I did decide to give it a shot, he was behind me 100per cent and without that I don't think I could have achieved everything I have in my career so far."

Interestingly enough, given his move to Ford Tickford Racing this year, Steven is the only driver ever to win the prestigious Bathurst endurance event driving a Ford one year and a Holden the next. Last year he tackled the Mountain in a Holden - this year it will again be in a Ford.

Between them, Steven and father Jim have won an impressive eight Bathurst titles. Both quietly hope the latest addition to the Richards clan - Steven's son Clayton - will follow in their footsteps.

Steven, Angela and his son Clayton live in Melbourne.