Asian Motor Sports

Supercheap Auto Racing’s Russell Ingall celebrates yet another milestone when he makes his 150th ATCC/V8 Supercar Championship start this weekend.

Ingall made his championship debut at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway in 1996 - the same venue for this weekend’s event - having landed a full-time drive with Larry Perkins’ then Castrol team after the pair won Bathurst together the previous year.

“I’ve had such a good time and it’s all gone by so quick that I would never have guessed I was up to 150 starts,” Ingall said.

The 44 year old now ranks eighth on the all-time ATCC/V8 starting list, with only John Bowe (225), Peter Brock (212), Glenn Seton (205), Dick Johnson and Mark Skaife (202), Tony Longhurst (190) and former boss Perkins (160) ahead.

He has 12 round wins and 22 podium finishes, along with two Bathurst 1000 victories and a Sandown 500 title to his credit. Four times previously a series runner-up (1998, 99, 01, 04), Ingall won the V8 Supercar Championship in 2005.

“Winning the championship in 2005 was obviously the pinnacle of my career to date. It’s the number one priority in any driver’s career, something we all strive for and I haven’t given up hope on repeating it again,” he said.

“But the true highlight has been the opportunity I’ve had to race not only in the current era, but also against the sport’s greats. From that perspective, I think my timing has been perfect.

“Racing against legends such as Brock, Johnson, Perkins and Jim Richards was incredible; they are true icons of the sport and to rub panels with them was great. “It’s also just as exciting to compete against Skaife and Craig Lowndes today. V8 Supercars has never been more competitive than what it is now and that’s what continues to motivate me.”

Ingall says he has no regrets from his career, including the many controversies he has been embroiled in - a number earning him hefty fines and the wrath of officials.

“If you go through a competitive career without being involved in something controversial, then you’re either boring or not trying hard enough - it’s all about pushing the boundaries,” he said.

“When I’m finished I’ll have made my mark and still have plenty of memories.”

The second round of the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship at Eastern Creek begins with practice this Friday, with qualifying and Race 1 Saturday. The event concludes with the final two races Sunday.