A stalwart of New Zealand business and motorsport has died.
Sir Colin Giltrap passed away peacefully at home overnight aged 84.
The Giltrap name is synonymous with motorsport – supporting most of our biggest names including Brendon Hartley, Earl Bamber, Shane van Gisbergen, Mitch Evans and Hayden Paddon.
Sir Colin's business and motoring journey started in the 1960s, when he co-founded a luxury car dealership, Monaco Motors.
In the 70s and 80s, Sir Colin expanded the business into Auckland. By the end of the decade, his car selling dominance on Great North Road had started to be felt.
Giltrap Group as it's known today is still run by the family and represents some of the biggest and richest motoring brands in the world.
Sir Colin's passion lay with launching Kiwi motorsport talents onto the world stage.
As well as household names like Hartley, Bamber, Evans, van Gisbergen – the company continues to back many starting out in their motorsport journeys.
Liam Lawson, Callum Hedge, Hunter McElrea and Sir Colin's grandson Marco have all been supported by the company in recent years.
Sir Colin himself spent some time behind the wheel of a racecar in the 60s.
Outside of motorsport, Sir Colin and wife, Lady Jennifer have supported several causes.
According to NBR, the couple have backed the Starship Foundation, New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, SPCA and Coastguard Northern Region.
In 2016, they pledged $250,000 for the creation of the Bruce McLaren Centre at Auckland University.
Sir Colin stepped down as chairman of Giltrap Group in May last year, handing the reins over to his two sons as equal shareholders.
In the 2012 New Year Honours, Sir Colin was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to motorsport and philanthropy.
Sir Colin had been battling ill health since suffering a fall in London last year.
