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Ford to Farewell Champion Russell Ingall

Staff, Wednesday November 28, 2007.

Page 1 of 1

2005 series champion Russell Ingall will end his successful five-year partnership with the Ford Motor Company after the final round of the current V8 Supercar Championship at Phillip Island in Victoria this weekend.

Ingall is driving out the last year of his current contract with Stone Brothers Racing, but has been released from his Ford contract one year early to pursue other opportunities.

Great Ocean Road Trust

Russell Ingall – Ford V8 Supercar Driver

The non-availability of a full-time drive with a leading Ford team next season has led to the amicable decision and Ingall will officially end his association on December 13 after he has completed contractual commitments, including end of season ride days with SBR.

An announcement on Ingall’s future plans will be confirmed in coming weeks.

"I have to thank everyone at Ford Australia for their support over the past five years," said Ingall.

"In particular I would like to thank (President) Tom Gorman for his on-going friendship and understanding."

"Opportunities have presented themselves on the ‘other side’ and (Ford Motorsport Manager) Ray Price has been good enough to allow me to explore those options – there will be more on that in the coming weeks."

"I also have to thank the Ford fans for their tremendous support over the past five years and hope they will understand my reasons for moving on."

Ford Australian President Tom Gorman, said that Ingall has been a valuable member of the Ford Racing family.

"At the end of the day we will be sad to see Russell leave the Ford Racing family, but he is a super-competitive driver who still has a few years left in him yet," said Gorman.

"Russell has been a terrific ambassador for the Ford brand in Australia over the last five years with the 2005 championship obviously being the on-track highlight of his time with us. We wish him all the best of luck – but not too much."

Great Ocean Road Trust

Russell Ingall (center) flanked by Marcos Ambrose (left) and Craig Lowndes (right) in 2005, the year he won the V8 Supercar Championship drivers cup.

Ford Motorsport Manager, Ray Price, said that the movement of Ingall away from Ford was the "end of an era".

"Russell is one of the real characters of this sport and has been an important part of the Ford Racing program for the last five years," said Price.

"He has been professional at all times during these negotiations and there is no doubt he will be out there giving 110 per cent for Ford and SBR at Phillip Island this weekend."

"We wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors."

Ingall joined Ford in 2003 when he was contracted by Ford and Stone Brothers Racing to drive the Caltex Falcon.

At his first ever race weekend with Ford, Ingall won the non-championship support event at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

A few months later he won his first championship round for Ford at the Queensland 300 and then backed that up with a round win at the Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast.

In 2004 he finished second in the championship to his teammate Marcos Ambrose and then in 2005 he finally clinched his first title after having been runner-up four times previously.

He currently sits 11th in the championship and is looking to maintain his record of being the only driver to have finished in the top 10 of the championship in everyone of its 11 years.

He will make his last appearance for Stone Brothers Racing in the final round of the V8 Supercar Championship at Phillip Island in Victoria this weekend.

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