V8 Supercars Champion, Russell Ingall makes history at this weekend’s Sucrogen Townsville 400 when he breaks the record for most starts in Australian Touring Car/V8 history. Ingall will make his 226th event start, breaking John Bowe’s long-standing record of 225.
The race number on Ingall’s Supercheap Auto Racing Holden VF Commodore will also be changed to 226 in recognition of the occasion. The iconic V8 Supercar driver is thrilled to still be competing at the sport’s top level after 18 years.
Since beginning his full-time V8 career with Larry Perkins’ famous Castrol Holden team in 1996, Ingall has raced against Australia’s best drivers. Four times a series runner-up (1998, ’99, ’01 and ’04), Ingall finally broke through for his first championship in 2005. Ingall’s two Bathurst 1000 victories in 1995 and 1997 are not counted in his tally of 226 starts, as Bathurst and the traditional 500km “warm-up” race (at Sandown, Queensland and Phillip Island) only became part of the championship in 1999.
Russell Ingall’s V8 Supercar Statistics
Bathurst 1000 wins: 2 (1995 & 1997)
Championship wins: 1 (2005)
Race wins: 27
Top three race finishes: 90
Pole positions: 1
Front-row qualifying positions: 8
