French Adds Fuel to the Fight

A name well known to motorsport – a successful businessman, enthusiast and racer, and co-owner of Ford Performance Racing – Rusty French is set to add another role to his impressive list of achievements.

This weekend he becomes a Touring Car Master, having purchased the history-making ex-Almond Porsche 911 RS – and there’s no doubt the experience and passion will be on show from the moment the #4 hits the track at Queensland Raceway for Round Four of the popular series of muscle cars and classic exotics this weekend.

Confirming major sponsorship from his highly successful sand mining business Skye Sands, the now black classic Porsche will add to French’s experience with the German marque, which extends across generations and racing categories.

“I’ve done a lot of racing in Porsches, having started in the Australian GT Championship, and winning in my second year when the Porsches were at the top of their game,” French – the 1983 Australian GT Champion – said. "So it will effectively be like racing an older version of what I’m used to.

“I enjoy watching the series, and there are plans to further increase my involvement in the future.

“Things came about from discussions with Mark Buik, as his series competitor Michael Almond was looking to move into Carrera Cup. We decided that a ‘swap’ would be a great opportunity for everyone, and be another opportunity where I could help support a talented young driver, so Michael will be running my car in Carrera Cup, and I’m able to get back behind the wheel and race with the Touring Car Masters.”

Having recently taken ownership of the Masters Porsche, French took to Sandown Raceway late last week to truly get a handle on the oldest, yet latest, of his exotic racing collection, completing 20 laps before returning to pit lane confident that the Buik Motorworks setup would suit him well.

Apart from a fresh look, the only change to the Porsche has been the dogbox gearbox, which has been replaced by a gearbox it would have raced back in the day. That means French will have to drive with a gentler style using the clutch, unlike the flatshifts possible for young Almond.

But there is an air of confidence accompanying French’s enthusiasm. “I’ve raced many cars, at many places, with many professionals and this is going to be another experience to get out there, have a bit of fun, and support a great series,” he said.

“Having done the testing laps, I’m more confident to not be going into the race weekend blind, but I’ll be looking to the Keenes, Sparks and O’Neills as my benchmark as they’ve been in the series’ Porsches for a long time.

“I’m not expecting miracles, I’m happy to just jump in and enjoy it all, while doing my best as always.

“I haven’t driven at Queensland Raceway since the NASCAR Power Tour days back in 2000, so the opening sessions will be all about track familiarisation, then we’ll do our best in the racing.

“Touring Car Masters is quite clearly all about camaraderie, enjoying these stunning cars of the era, allowing the public to still see them on track at their best, and having a bit of fun, and I intend to do just that.”

Tickets to the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 – which includes the Touring Car Masters, V8 Supercars, Dunlop Series, Formula Ford and Aussie Racing Cars – are available through Ticketek.