Ryan Briscoe Joins Russell Ingall For Enduros

Supercheap Auto Racing’s Russell Ingall will be partnered by one of Australia’s most successful international drivers in this year’s inaugural V8 Supercars Endurance Cup.

Ryan Briscoe has been confirmed as Ingall’s co-driver in the SCAR VF Commodore for the Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Armor All Gold Coast 600.

“I’m really excited to be coming home and driving with Walkinshaw Racing again, partnering a V8 icon in Russell Ingall,” Briscoe said.

“I’ve been following the V8s all season and it’s great timing to be driving with Russell and the Supercheap Auto team; they had a great result in Townsville and are clearly coming strong before the enduros.” 

While his most notable career highlights have been achieved overseas, Briscoe is no stranger to V8 Supercars; he debuted with the Holden Racing Team at the 2006 Sandown 500, scoring a stunning provisional pole on debut.

“My introduction to V8s was memorable – I was comfortable at Sandown straight away and I have very fond memories there,” Briscoe said. 

Briscoe returned to Walkinshaw Racing in 2010 to partner Andrew Thompson at Bathurst and Will Davison on the Gold Coast. For the last two years, he has driven with Garth Tander at the Surfers Paradise event, finishing both last year’s races in the top five.

Ingall is looking forward to being joined by an international star for another year, after being partnered by Christian Klien in 2012.

“V8s are unique race cars and can be tricky to drive, but Ryan has shown he’s able to adapt very quickly,” Ingall said.

“Having a co-driver of his calibre in the Supercheap Auto Commodore will give us a great chance in the enduros.

“It’s especially good having Ryan on board for the Gold Coast, because has great pedigree there in both Indycars and V8s.”

Briscoe is one of Australia’s most successful racing exports; he was test driver for the Toyota Formula One team from 2002-04, before his successful Indycar career kicked into gear in 2005 with Chip Ganassi Racing.

While Briscoe’s career was interrupted with a spectacular crash at Chicagoland Speedway in ’05, he rebounded strongly during the next few seasons, signing with Penske Racing in ‘08.

Briscoe has won eight Indycar races, including the final Indycar Gold Coast event in ’08, finished third in the ’09 standings and became the first Australian to qualify on pole for the prestigious Indianapolis 500 in 2012.

In 2013, Briscoe has mixed Indycar racing with American Le Mans Series competition. Driving with Level 5 Motorsports, he won the P2 class at the 12 Hours of Sebring alongside Scott Tucker and Marino Franchitti. He also debuted in the Le Mans 24 hour, completing a total of 10 hours at the wheel.

After driving a third car for Ganassi at the Indy 500, Briscoe shifted to Panther Racing but recently injured his wrist in a crash at Toronto. 

Briscoe has undergone surgery and is expected to return to racing with Level 5 in the next ALMS round at Road America.

The V8 Endurance Cup will be awarded to the drivers who score the most points across the Sandown, Bathurst and Gold Coast races. In previous years, drivers who raced at Sandown and Bathurst were not permitted to compete on the Gold Coast but this restriction has been lifted for 2013.