Caltex Racing’s Russell Ingall has returned to the scene of his first-ever motor race a day before he will take to the track for the 2007 Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.
The 2005 V8 Supercar Champion today visited the Pines Kart Raceway in Oakbank, South Australia in the Adelaide Hills today. Ingall participated in his first karting event at the circuit in 1976, beginning a celebrated motorsport career for the Adelaide-raised driver.
Ingall was victorious in the 1987 SA State Championships at the Oakbank circuit, winning his final karting race before moving on to Formula Ford and winning the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 1990.
Ingall today was reacquainted with a kart from his era of racing at the Pines circuit before turning some laps in a modern day kart. The vintage kart also beared the number plate that Ingall used when he competed in the Hong Kong Kart Grand Prix in 1987.
“It’s great to come back to where my career began, it’s funny driving up here a lot of things began to feel very familiar, †said Ingall.
“I watched my first go-kart race here in late 1975 and then started my career at the age of 12 in the Sub-Junior category early the following year. I must say the track certainly looks a lot smaller than I remember it.
“Karting is where I learnt my driving technique, much of which I still put into practice while driving my Caltex Falcon in the V8 Supercar Championship. Some of the best races I have had throughout my career were when I was racing karts; it was very tough racing.
“While the kart I sat in today might be a little bit older than the one I started in, mine was also home-made just like this one was. â€
Ingall won five Australian karting titles in his early racing years, four and a senior and one as a junior, racing for both Australian and European kart manufacturers. Ingall of course went on to win the Bathurst 1000 twice, as well as one Sandown 500 victory and the 2005 V8 Supercar title.
The Pines circuit now lies dormant after its closure in 2001. The Go Kart Club of South Australia, the host club of Pines Raceway, is currently planning to build a new circuit at Monarto near Murray Bridge.
“It is shame they had to close the Pines track down as it was a lot of fun to race around here, you really had to push hard if you were going to be at the front. It will be a good thing for the sport when the club opens the new track at Monarto later this year, †said Ingall.
“Coming back to places like here, and also many parts of Adelaide, bring back a lot of memories for me. There is quite a few people who have helped me get to where I am today and it would mean a lot to me if I could break through and win the Clipsal 500.
“We’ve had a good run here in the past but haven’t won it, hopefully this weekend will be my year. â€
Ingall will tackle the 3.22km Adelaide street circuit aboard his Caltex Racing Falcon for opening practice tomorrow morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon.
The Clipsal 500 is made up of a pair of 78-lap (250km) races on Saturday and Sunday.
