RUSSELL INGALL - BIOGRAPHY

Russell Ingall’s tough, uncompromising attitude has earned him the nickname ‘The Enforcer’ and has made him a winner on the track and a national media and fan favourite off it. Russell Ingall is one of the most recognisable faces in Australian motorsport as well as one of the most internationally traveled and successful race car drivers courtesy of an outstanding career of high achievement, both in Australia and overseas.

Ingall began his motor racing career at the age of 12, racing go-karts in Australia. After winning an Australian Junior and four times Senior karting championships he moved to race karts in Europe before making the transition to Formula Ford.

Russell’s success in a Formula Ford is second to none, having won the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 1990, runner up the British Championship in 1991, winner of the 1992 New Zealand Formula Ford championship during a break from racing in the European winter, with an impressive 10 victories from 12 races.

In 1993, Ingall made history winning the British Formula Ford Championship in crushing style, winning 13 out of 16 races and in the process recording the highest number of wins in a single season in the history of Formula Ford. To top off the year, he won the British Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch to put his name alongside the greats like Johnny Herbet, Jenson Button and Mark Webber.

After success in Formula Ford, Ingall made the move to other categories where he successfully competed in Championships from Formula Renault to Formula 3, racing in Great Britain, Europe, the prestigious German Formula 3 Championship and in 1994 the All-Japan Formula 3 Championship.

Ingall’s success and versatility in many categories also gave him the opportunity to race in prestigious events such as the Macau Grand Prix in 1992, the Indian Madras Formula 3 GP in 1993 and 1994 and the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 3 support race in 1992.

Finishing third in the 1995 British Formula Renault title, Ingall returned to Australia and partnered Larry Perkins to victory in Australia’s ‘Great Race’, the Bathurst 1000 – the pair coming from last to first to win. The victory earned Ingall a full-time drive with Perkins’ team in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship, a partnership that would last 6 years and see Russell finish 3rd once and runner up 3 times in the V8 Championship.

In 2003 Ingall moved from Perkins Engineering to join Stone Brothers Racing and Ford, and partner with Marcos Ambrose in what was to become another successful partnership. After finishing runner up again in the V8 Championship in 2004 to Ambrose, Ingall finally achieved his goal in 2005 and won the coveted series.

In 2008 Ingall moved back to Holden and joined Paul Morris Motorsport and also began a 5 year partnership with sponsor Supercheap Auto. He spent his final two years with the brand at Walkinshaw racing. 2013 saw Russell Ingall achieve the highest number of race starts of any driver in the history of V8 Supercars and be recognised by the Guinness World Records for his achievement.

2014 was to be Russell’s 19th consecutive and final year of full time V8 Supercar competition making him the most experienced competitor in the field.   Russell joined the revitalised Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport with new sponsor Phil Munday’s Repair Management. The move was an effort by Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport to focus their attention on Russell and use his experience in V8 Supercars to help move the team up the V8 Supercar Grid. Russell finished a respectable 18th in the Championship – 8 places higher than the team had ever achieved previously

In 2015 following Russell’s retirement from full time V8 Racing he joined the Fox Sports Team with Jessica Yates and old rival Mark Skaife as an expert commentator in the Fox Network’s V8 Supercar Coverage.  He also juggled his Fox Sports commitments to return to Walkinshaw Racing for the 2015 Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000.  A sentimental partnership with old boss Larry Perkin's son, Jack after a freak pit lane accident ruled main driver, James Courtney out of competing.  Finishing a respectable 9th and 11th Russell then moved to the Pepsi Max Crew to replace injured Chaz Mostert and team up with Cameron Waters.  

In 2016, continuing his Fox Sports commitments, Russell joined Rick Kelly in the Nissan Motorsport Altima for the three Endurance events.  

Following the 2016 Endurance Cup, Russell ceased Supercar competition to concentrate on his Fox Sports commitments including guest hosting roles in Moto GP - a personal passion of Russell’s to which he continues to date.

Winner, V8 Supercar Championship Series (2005)

Winner, Australia’s Great Race, the Bathurst 1000 (1995, 97)

Runner-up, V8 Supercar Championship Series (1998, 99, 2001, 04)

Runner-up, Australian Formula Ford Championship (1989)

Winner, Australian Formula Ford Championship (1990)

Runner-up, British Formula Ford Championship (1991)

Ninth, German Formula 3 Championship (1992)

Fifth, Macau Grand Prix (1992)

Winner 1992/93 New Zealand Formula Ford Atlantic Championship

Winner, British Formula Ford Championship (1993)

Winner, British Formula Ford Festival (1993)

Third, Formula Renault UK Championship (1995)

Guinness World Record Holder Most Starts in V8 Supercar Championship Events

247 Australian Touring Car Championship / V8 Supercar Round Starts

587 V8 Supercar Race Starts

27 V8 Supercar Race wins

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