The Swift DB4 that carried Jos Verstappen to three victories in 1993 returned to the winner’s circle last weekend, driven to an emotional triumph by Jaxon Evans at Highlands Motorsport Park. The race, the Tim Miles Memorial Trophy, honoured the late New Zealand motorsport benefactor who had acquired the historic chassis before his tragic death in a cycling accident last year. Evans, one of several drivers whose careers Miles had supported, drove the car in its original Philips livery to claim victory in the Formula Atlantic event that preceded the New Zealand Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s 1993 Formula Pacific campaign laid foundations
Jos Verstappen entered the 1993 Formula Pacific season as preparation for his German Formula 3 campaign later that year. Competing for Graeme Lawrence Motorsport, Verstappen piloted a Swift DB4 chassis that was already four years old at the time. Despite the age disadvantage against newer machinery like Craig Baird’s championship-winning Reynard 92H, the Dutch driver secured an impressive fourth place in the final standings.
His season yielded three victories across ten races, with two triumphs at Timaru and another at Teretonga Park. The Formula Pacific series, which has evolved through various transformations into today’s Formula Regional Oceania championship, provided crucial racing experience for the young Verstappen. The distinctive Philips-sponsored livery that adorned the Swift DB4 during that campaign would become part of the car’s enduring legacy.
Miles’s extensive motorsport involvement and mentorship
Tim Miles purchased the historic Swift DB4 chassis last season, adding it to his substantial motorsport portfolio. The New Zealand businessman had established himself as both a respected amateur competitor and influential supporter of emerging talent across Australia and New Zealand. His own racing credentials included victories in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and a runner-up finish in the Australian Endurance Championship.
Miles’s competitive success extended into 2024, when he secured a class victory in the highly competitive GT World Challenge Australia series. Beyond his personal racing achievements, Miles dedicated significant resources to advancing the careers of promising drivers from the Oceania region. His support typically combined financial backing with mentorship, providing crucial opportunities for talented competitors to progress through the ranks.
Campbell and Evans among Miles’s success stories
The impact of Miles’s patronage can be measured through the achievements of drivers he supported. Matt Campbell emerged as one of his most successful protégés, claiming victories at both Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona while securing an IMSA championship title. Campbell’s transition from domestic competition to international sports car racing success demonstrated the effectiveness of Miles’s development approach.
Jaxon Evans represented another significant Miles success story. The driver progressed from Porsche Carrera Cup champion to class winner at the Bathurst 12 Hour before advancing to Australia’s premier Supercars category. Evans’s relationship with Miles extended beyond simple sponsorship, with the businessman providing ongoing guidance throughout his career trajectory. This personal connection made Miles’s sudden death particularly devastating for the young driver.
Tragic loss shocks Australasian racing community
Miles died in a cycling accident in mid-2024 at the age of 58. The sudden loss sent shockwaves through the Australian and New Zealand motorsport communities, where he had become a central figure in driver development programmes. His dual role as active competitor and talent supporter had made him uniquely positioned within the regional racing ecosystem.
The circumstances of his death highlighted the fragility that exists outside the safety structures of modern motorsport. While racing had provided Miles with numerous close calls and competitive moments, his life ended during a routine training ride. The tragedy prompted an outpouring of tributes from drivers, teams, and officials who had benefited from his involvement in the sport.
Memorial trophy race delivers emotional tribute
The Tim Miles Memorial Trophy was contested last Sunday at Highlands Motorsport Park as part of the New Zealand Grand Prix support programme. The Formula Atlantic race brought together historic machinery similar to the cars Miles had collected and campaigned. Evans took the start in the ex-Verstappen Swift DB4, which Miles had restored to its original 1993 Philips livery specification.
The decision to race the specific chassis that had connected Miles’s passion for historic racing with his support for contemporary drivers added poignant symbolism to the event. Evans faced a field of period Formula Atlantic competitors around the challenging 4.1-kilometre circuit in New Zealand’s South Island. The race format allowed the Swift DB4 to demonstrate the pace that had carried Verstappen to victories three decades earlier.
Evans claims victory through tears
Evans controlled the Memorial Trophy race from the front, delivering the victory that the occasion demanded. The emotional weight of driving his late benefactor’s car in such circumstances became evident in his post-race interview. Fighting back tears, Evans acknowledged the difficulty of coping with Miles’s absence while expressing his determination to honour his memory through performance.
“For all of us, it hasn’t been an easy loss,” Evans said after climbing from the cockpit. “I wanted to make him proud and I’m glad I could be part of this tribute. Hopefully this won’t be the last time I get to drive this car.” His comments reflected both the personal grief felt by those closest to Miles and the broader sense of loss within the motorsport community.
The sight of the Philips-liveried Swift DB4 returning to victory lane brought the narrative full circle. The chassis had launched Verstappen toward his eventual Formula 1 career, served as a prized possession in Miles’s collection, and now stood as a rolling memorial to the businessman’s motorsport legacy. Evans’s emotional victory ensured that Miles’s contribution to Australasian racing would be remembered through both the drivers he supported and the historic machinery he preserved.
