Profile: V8 Supercars Newest Team Owner

WITH a longhistory as a successful businessman and a passionate racer, few people would bepositioned to co-lead Ford Performance Racing into a new era of sustainedsuccess like Rusty French.

Along withnew co-owner Rod Nash – already the owner of the #55 Racing EntitlementsContract (REC) run by FPR – it was confirmed last week that French was involvedin the purchase of the factory Ford outfit from previous and founding owners Prodrive.

The sale cameas surprise; however it seems that the team is in safe hands with both newowners well vested in all aspects of the sport.  

While Nash’sachievements in V8 Supercars as a team owner has been well documented in recenttimes, French’s involvement in motorsport has been contested at a somewhatlower profile – though no less competitively.

The Victoriancontinues to own and operate his highly successful sand mining business SkyeSands, based at the French family farm on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsular.

Skye Sandswill be recognisable to racing fans, however, after most famously appearing onFrench’s Porsche GT Cars and Bathurst 1000 entries from the mid 1970s to mid1980s, the brand usually in bright yellow script on a jet black car.

French madehis Bathurst debut in 1968, racing a Hillman Gazelle to 22nd placeoutright and 4th in class B.

His bestresult came in his final Great Race start in 1984, finishing 6th ina VH Holden Commodore he shared with Geoff Russell – the father of regular V8Supercars and Dunlop Series racer David – behind eventual winners Peter Brockand Larry Perkins.

While he hada solid career in Touring Cars, it was in GT and Sports Car competition whereRusty’s driving career shone.  

Afterfinishing second to 1980 Formula One World Champion Alan Jones in the 1982Australian GT Championship, French won the title in 1983 driving his stunningSkye Sands Porsche 935.

In 1984 Frenchteamed with British drivers David Sutherland and Tiff Needell (yes, the Tiff Needell) to finish ninth in hisone and only start in the renowned LeMans 24 Hour endurance race in France,before returning to the Kremer Porsche team at the inaugural Sandown 1000 WorldSports Car Series race later that year.

There, drivingwith German ace Manfred Winkelhock, French finished fifth - the first Australianhome and one position in front of well-known Australian Touring Car aces ColinBond and Andrew Miedecke!

In the 1990sand early 2000s French dabbled in Australian NASCAR with a Chevy Monte Carloand even raced a Dodge Viper GTS in the Nations Cup – a continuation of hispassion for GT-style racing grown in the 1980s.

HoweverFrench was always a Porsche fan and returned to the German marquee in the firstincarnation of Carrera Cup in the mid 2000s, prior to re-emerging on thenational landscape in the 2011 series; finishing 22nd.

Last year hehanded his car over to young protégé’ and regular V8 Supercar co-driver DanielGaunt, the Kiwi running with Skye Sands signage en route to fourth in the titlerace.

French has rarely parted with racing cars he has owned, owning an impressivecollection all based at his Victorian farm.

And, he stillraces semi-regularly: competing in historic Sports Car competition primarily inthe United States where he remains a regular race winner against toughcompetition – check out this video of him behind the wheel of his stunning 935at Laguna Seca!

French’sfirst foray as a V8 Supercars team owner will be at the official pre-seasontest, scheduled for Sydney Motorsport Park on Sunday, February 16.

V8Supercars.com.auwelcomes Rusty to the V8 family!

Click here toread the full announcement confirming French and Rod Nash as FPRs new owners.