Kenny Habul

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Kenny Charles Edward Habul (born on 24 May 1973) is an Australian race car driver and a businessman. Born in Sydney, Australia, a former resident of Etadick, Ontario, Greenwich, CT, and a current resident of Mooresville, North Carolina, he is the president and CEO of SunEnergy1.[1] He has competed in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the V8 Supercar Development Series, the Australian Formula 3 Championship, the CASCAR Super Series, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.[2] In 2018, he won the inaugural Intercontinental GT Challenge Bronze Drivers' title.[3] He won the 2022 and 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour with his SunEnergy1 Racing team.[4]

Kenny Habul
Habul celebrating the 2018 Intercontinental GT Challenge Bronze Drivers' title at Laguna Seca
NationalityAustralia Australian
Born (1973-05-24) 24 May 1973 (age 51)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Racing licence FIA Bronze
Achievements2018 Intercontinental GT Challenge Bronze Drivers' Champion 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge Bronze Drivers' Champion 2021 Intercontinental GT Challenge and 2022 Intercontinental GT Challenge Pro Am Drivers Champion
Awards2022 Bathurst 12 Hour and 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour Outright Winner
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
15 races run over 4 years
2016 position53rd
Best finish44th (2014)
First race2012 Sargento 200 (Road America)
Last race2016 Road America 180 (Road America)
WinsTop tensPoles
000
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
1 race run over 1 year
2013 position108th
First race2013 Kroger 250 (Martinsville)
WinsTop tensPoles
000
NASCAR Canada Series career
7 races run over 2 years
Best finish27th (2006)
First race2005 ATTO 100 (Toronto)
Last race2006 CASCAR 100 (Montreal)
WinsTop tensPoles
020
Statistics current as of 27 August 2016.

Racing career

Introduction

Habul started his racing career with karting at the age of six.[5] His following career included racing in Formula Ford, Formula 3, V8 Supercars, CASCAR, NASCAR Trucks, NASCAR Xfinity Series and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He also competed in the 2018 Bathurst 12-hour where he finished second outright. That race was the first in four endurance events for the year that made up the Intercontinental GT Challenge. After Bathurst, he headed to the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps where he claimed another podium in the Bronze Driver class, before sealing a second Bronze driver win at the Suzuka 10 Hours in Japan in August. Habul wrapped up the inaugural Bronze driver title at the final round at Laguna Seca in California in October.

Formula Ford

In 1998, after spending several years establishing his business career, Habul returned to racing in the Australian Formula Ford championship. The following year, Habul scored his first category podium in a qualifying sprint support race at the Gold Coast Indy 300 on the streets of Surfers Paradise in Queensland. He finished third behind 2014 IndyCar Champion and 2018 Indy 500 winner, Will Power and Bathurst 1000 podium-getter, Steve Owen.[6]

Formula 3

In 2002, Habul moved to Formula 3 and competed in support races at the Gold Coast Indy 300. In the following season, Habul contested most of the championship rounds, finishing ninth outright in the national championship.[7][8]

CASCAR

After moving to Ontario, Habul began racing stock cars, competing in the CASCAR Super Series. In 2005, Habul contested three rounds of the series recording a best result of 10th.[9] Before the series was purchased by NASCAR in 2007, Habul recorded a career best of third.[10]

Xfinity Series

After making six starts in the Nationwide Series in 2012 and 2013, in June 2014 Habul announced that he had signed with Joe Gibbs Racing to drive a SunEnergy1-sponsored car in the series' events at Road America and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course that year.[11]

Habul joined JR Motorsports in 2016 to compete in the road course races. Additionally, SunEnergy1 sponsored him and Josh Berry in the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro,[12] while also sponsoring Chase Elliott in the Sprint Cup Series.[13]

Camping World Truck Series

On 6 April 2013, Habul made his Camping World Truck Series debut with RSS Racing, driving the No. 93 Chevrolet Silverado at Martinsville.[citation needed]

WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

In 2016, Habul started his own team in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Driving in the GTD series, Habul started 2017 by winning the pole in his class for the 12 Hours of Sebring.[14]

In 2018, Kabul continued his IMSA campaign by competing in the Rolex 24hr Daytona in January, finishing 8th.[citation needed] For the Belle Isle race, Habul teamed up with Bernd Schneider.[15] The pair finished the weekend in 8th.[16]

Intercontinental GT Challenge

Kenny Habul after winning the Bronze Drivers' title Intercontinental GT Challenge

In 2018 Habul entered the Intercontinental GT Challenge in the Bronze category, starting the season at the Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in February, where he finished on the podium with co-drivers Jamie Whincup, Vautier, and Raffaele Marciello.[citation needed] At the 24 Hours of Spa he finished 20th overall and 3rd in the Pro-Am class with co-drivers Bernd Schneider, Thomas Jaeger, and Martin Konrad.[citation needed] He then won his class in the Suzuka 10 Hours, finishing 10th overall with co-drivers Mikaël Grenier and Luca Stolz for the 10 hour race;[citation needed] the same co-drivers joined Habul for the season finale 8-hour event at Laguna Seca Raceway, where after spending two hours repairing damage in the pits Habul clinched the Bronze Driver Championship title with a 27th place overall finish, fourth in class[17] In 2022, Habul won the 2022 Bathurst 12 Hour, driving with Konrad, Stolz and Jules Gounon.[4]

Personal life and awards

Habul attended Merrimac High School, and then received a law degree from Bond University.[18]

In 2011, North Carolina State House Representative Ruth Samuelson awarded Habul with recognition on behalf of the NC Solar Center. He was also presented with the Energy Leadership Award in 2012 by the Charlotte Business Journal.[19] On 18 December 2010, Habul was commissioned a Palmetto Patriot by the Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, Andre Bauer. At the same ceremony Darlington Raceway President Chris Browning and NASCAR Legends David Pearson, Bud Moore, Cale Yarborough and Cotton Owners, all South Carolina natives, were also honoured.[20]

Music

Habul is credited as a co-composer, along with Zac Brown, Niko Moon and Ben Simonetti for the song Your Majesty, which appears as the eighth track on the Zac Brown Band's 2017 album, Welcome Home.[21]

Philanthropy

Habul and SunEnergy1 started a relationship with Feed the Children in 2015 in a drive to provide 1,000 Elizabeth City-area families with food and essentials through the Albemarle Food Pantry.[22]

Images

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
YearTeamNo.Make123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233NXSCPtsRef
2012SunEnergy1 Racing75ToyotaDAYPHOLVSBRICALTEXRCHTALDARIOWCLTDOVMCHROA
16
KENDAYNHACHIINDIOWGLN
20
CGV
34
BRIATLRCHCHIKENDOVCLTKANTEXPHOHOM55th62[23]
2013DAYPHOLVSBRICALTEXRCHTALDARCLTDOVIOWMCHROA
18
KENDAYNHACHIINDIOWGLN
34
MOH
26
BRIATLRCHCHIKENDOVKANCLTTEXPHOHOM56th54[24]
2014Joe Gibbs Racing20ToyotaDAYPHOLVSBRICALTEXDARRCHTALIOWCLTDOVMCHROA
14
KENDAYNHACHIINDIOWMOH
31
BRIATLRCHCHIKENDOVKANCLTTEXPHOHOM44th61[25]
SunEnergy1 Racing75ToyotaGLN
26
2015Joe Gibbs Racing20ToyotaDAYATLLVSPHOCALTEXBRIRCHTALIOWCLTDOVMCHCHIDAYKENNHAINDIOWGLN
29
MOH
28
BRIROA
14
DARRCHCHIKENDOVCLTKANTEXPHOHOM49th61[26]
2016JR Motorsports88ChevyDAYATLLVSPHOCALTEXBRIRCHTALDOVCLTPOCMCHIOWDAYKENNHAINDIOWGLN
17
MOH
36
BRIROA
34
DARRCHCHIKENDOVCLTKANTEXPHOHOM53rd36[27]

Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122NCWTCPtsRef
2013SunEnergy1 Racing93ToyotaDAYMAR
26
CARKANCLTDOVTEXKENIOWELDPOCMCHBRIMSPIOWCHILVSTALMARTEXPHOHOM108th01[28]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamMakeEngineClass123456789101112Pos.Pts
2016Stevenson MotorsportsAudi R8 LMSAudi 5.2 V10GTDDAY
7
SEBLAGDETWGLMOSLRPROAVIRCOAPET47th25
2017SunEnergy1 RacingMercedes-AMG GT3Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8GTDDAY
18
SEB
3
LBHCOA
3
DET
15
WGL
15
MOS
13
LRPROA
12
VIR
16
LAG
12
PET
16
20th192
2018SunEnergy1 RacingMercedes-AMG GT3Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8GTDDAY
8
SEB
10
MOH
12
DET
8
WGL
8
MOSLRPROAVIRLAGPET18th109
2021SunEnergy1 RacingMercedes-AMG GT3 EvoMercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8GTDDAY
2
SEB
9
MDODET
10
WGL
14
WGLLIMELKLGALBHVIRPET30th778
2022SunEnergy1Mercedes-AMG GT3 EvoMercedes-AMG M159 6.2

L V8

GTDDAY
21
SEB
LBH
LGA
MDO
DET
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
PET
70th128
2023SunEnergy1Mercedes-AMG GT3 EvoMercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8GTDDAY
22
SEBLBHMONWGLMOSLIMELKVIRIMSPET68th125
2024SunEnergy1 RacingMercedes-AMG GT3 EvoMercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8GTD ProDAY
13
SEBLGADETWGLMOSELKVIRIMSATL13th*201*

*Season still in progress.

Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results

YearTeamCo-driversCarClassLapsPos.Class
pos.
2018 SunEnergy1 Racing Raffaele Marciello
Tristan Vautier
Jamie Whincup
Mercedes-AMG GT3Pro-Am2712nd2nd
2019 SunEnergy1 Racing Dominik Baumann
Thomas Jäger
Mercedes-AMG GT3Pro-Am204DNFDNF
2020 SunEnergy1 Racing Dominik Baumann
Martin Konrad
David Reynolds
Mercedes-AMG GT3 EvoPro-Am29020th4th
2022 SunEnergy1 Racing Jules Gounon
Martin Konrad
Luca Stolz
Mercedes-AMG GT3 EvoPro-Am2911st1st
2023 SunEnergy1 Racing Jules Gounon
Luca Stolz
Mercedes-AMG GT3 EvoPro3231st1st
2024 SunEnergy1 Racing Jules Gounon
Luca Stolz
Mercedes-AMG GT3 EvoPro2752nd2nd

Complete Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup results

YearTeamCarClass12345678910Pos.Pts
2018SunEnergy1 RacingMercedes-AMG GT3Pro-AmZOL
1
ZOL
2
BRH
1
BRH
2
MIS
1
MIS
2
HUN
1

15
HUN
2

DNS
NÜR
1
NÜR
2
5th16.5

Complete Intercontinental GT Challenge results

YearCarClass12345Pos.Pts
2018Mercedes-AMG GT3BronzeBAT
2
SPA
8
SUZ
10
LUG
13
1st83
2019Mercedes-AMG GT3BronzeBAT
Ret
LUGSPASUZ
12
KYL1st25
2020Mercedes-AMG GT3Pro-AmBAT
13
IND
9
SPASUZ
C
KYL20th2
2021Mercedes-AMG GT3Pro-AmBAT
C
SPAIND
8
KYL
7
1st50
2022Mercedes-AMG GT3Pro-AmBAT
1
SPA
28
IND
7
KYL
1st65
2023Mercedes-AMG GT3ProBAT
1
KYL
3
SPA
IND
GUL
NC
11th40

References