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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 fulltime 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.
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