Ben Walsh

He may have only re-appeared on the racing scene in 2016, but in the late 1990s Ben Walsh was one of Australia’s hottest international motorsport prospects.

After a successful career in karting and HQ Holdens in the early 90s, Walsh made the move overseas to chase the Formula 1 dream, racing in British Formula Ford and French Formula Renault, before contesting selected Asian open-wheel categories.

Walsh won the prestigious FIA International Asian Drivers' Championship in 1998 and received a drive in the T.O.M.S. Toyota team to contest the Japanese F3 Championship in '99.

Sadly, a mechanical failure caused Walsh to crash heavily in testing at Fuji, the injuries he sustained effectively ending his international ambitions.

After well over a decade on the sidelines, Walsh made a triumphant return to the sport in 2016, claiming the Aussie Racing Cars Masters Cup title.

Last year, Walsh finished fourth in the ECB SuperUtes standings, with overall podium results in the Sandown, Bathurst and Newcastle events.