John Russell Joins Eggleston Motorsport for 2014

World-class engineer John Russell will join Eggleston Motorsport for the 2014 Dunlop Series.

After 14 years in Formula One, Le-Mans Prototypes and BTCC, the former Williams F1 engineer has worked at Triple Eight Race Engineering since 2011 as Director of Engineering and Production and will continue in that role as a consultant in the team’s Brisbane workshop.

On race weekends he will serve as dedicated race engineer for Eggleston Motorsport’s multi-car Dunlop Series team, further strengthening the ties between Roland Dane’s V8 Supercar Championship-winning squad and the emerging Melbourne-based EMS outfit. 

Russell, who has previous V8 Supercar experience as Chief Engineer at Ford Performance Racing and Race/Development Engineer at Brad Jones Racing, has acted as race engineer for Triple Eight’s Dunlop Series entry across the last three years with drivers Andrew Thompson (2011 champion), Scott Pye (2012 runner-up) and Casey Stoner.

“I’m delighted to be joining EMS for the 2014 Dunlop Series in what promises to be an intensely fought championship,” Russell said.

“With Triple Eight Race Engineering electing not to run in the 2014 Dunlop Series, it seemed logical to continue my association with the Holden VE model that I have engineered in the last three seasons.

“The racing benchmark of the series continues to raise the bar each year, echoed with the celebrated ‘class of 2012’ all in deserved quality V8 Supercars Championship drives in the coming season.

“Last season saw the series acquire many full specification 2012 V8 Supercars Championship cars which has allowed many of the previously limited teams and drivers to show their worth in 2013.

“With the series organisers making appropriate revisions to the weekend format for 2014 I believe the Dunlop Series now offers an even more representative staircase to the V8SC.

“Working with EMS was a logical and simple decision for me as we share a common ethic of setting high standards in car preparation, presentation and ambition.

“I look forward to aiding and mentoring the new blood as well as pushing hard to secure EMS a championship against what is shaping up to be formidable opposition.”

EMS Team Manager Rachael Wagg confirmed ex-Stone Brothers and Ford Performance Racing engineer Dan Kroehn would continue his relationship with the team and work together with Russell in 2014.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honoured to have John join Eggleston Motorsport in 2014,” Wagg said.

“His wealth of knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our emerging team. When you invest in the best cars you need to make sure you have the right people to get the most of the cars and the drivers.

“To have someone of John’s expertise in the corner of young drivers trying to make their mark in the sport is a massive advantage and will accelerate their learning and ability.

“We are also equally excited to confirm that our 2013 engineer Dan Kroehn will be with the team again this season.

“Dan was a huge asset to EMS in 2013 and having worked with John in the past, we have no doubt they will be a formidable combination. Both Dan and John are equally as excited to be joining forces again!

“We head into 2014 with an incredibly strong crew line up and are confident our driver line up will be equally as talented.”

Eggleston Motorsport finished fourth in the 2013 Dunlop Series with Jack Perkins despite the recently signed Team JELD-WEN V8 Supercar driver missing the first round in Adelaide.

Eggleston Motorsport will run three Triple Eight-built Commodores in next year’s Dunlop Series having recently purchased the 2010 Bathurst-winning Holden VE II raced during 2013 by MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner.

The team will announce its full driver line-up in the near future.

The 2014 Dunlop Series will begin at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on February 27.