Stone Brothers Racing - History

History

The team was originally formed as Alan Jones Racing in 1996, with Ross and Jim each holding a one-third ownership stake along with the team's lead driver, 1980 Formula One World Champion, Alan Jones. Racing initially under the Pack Leader Racing identity with Paul Romano as #2 driver, the team had several title sponsors in 1997 before the Stone brothers bought out Jones' stake at the end of the year.

Now a single car team under the name Stone Brothers Racing, the team signed 1997 Bathurst Classic co-driver Jason Bright to drive a Pirtek-sponsored EL Falcon for the 1998 season. The team also ran the Larkham Motor Sport Falcon of Mark Larkham, essentially as a full team-mate to Bright. Bright and Larkham had a mixed year, with the highlight being a win in the Bathurst 1000 with co-driver Steven Richards, which was almost a team 1-2 result as the team displayed excellent strategy and teamwork during the day, only a battery problem slowing the satellite car of Larkham and Brad Jones who still managed to finish fourth. The team continued to show promise in 1999, with Bright scoring three poles, and three podiums including a win at the Hidden Valley Raceway round.

Bright left the team to pursue opportunities in the United States and the team expanded to a two-car operation, with Craig Baird taking his seat in the Pirtek car, while Tony Longhurst drove the new Caltex-sponsored entry. In a lean year, the team's best finish was a podium for Baird at Phillip Island, although Longhurst and co-driver David Besnard lead late in the 2000 Bathurst 1000 until tangling with another car.

SBR then opted for some young talent for the 2001 season, with Marcos Ambrose and David Besnard taking over the driving duties in the Pirtek and Caltex Falcons respectively. Ambrose won a round, took two podiums, and impressed with his qualifying speed. Besnard had a mixed year, taking one podium. Both drivers remained with the team for the 2002 season, and took three round wins between them; including a Queensland 500 enduro victory for Besnard, and a dominant win at Sandown Raceway for Ambrose.

In 2003, Ambrose continued to drive the Pirtek-sponsored SBR Falcon, but star driver Russell Ingall took over for the FPR-bound Besnard in the Caltex car. 2003 saw the introduction of the Project Blueprint parity rules, and the new BA Falcon for Ford, and the VY Commodore for Holden. On this new playing field, SBR was the dominant force, with Ambrose winning the championship and Ingall finishing 7th. Between them they won eight of thirteen rounds (6 to Ambrose, 2 for Ingall). Ambrose took 5 pole positions. Meanwhile, Mark Winterbottom won the Level Two Development Series in an SBR Falcon.

This dominance continued in the 2004 season, with Ambrose winning a second championship and Ingall finishing 2nd overall, giving SBR a historic 1-2 championship finish. The team recorded 6 round wins - 5 to Ambrose and 1 to Ingall. Among these round victories was an outstanding Sandown 500 victory to Ambrose and co-driver Greg Ritter - a race where Ambrose reset the lap record. The same race saw Ingall and his co-driver Cameron McLean come in 2nd for a 1-2 race finish.

In 2005, Ingall won the championship, finally shedding the dubious "bridesmaid" tag. Consistency and strategy, rather than outright speed and wins were crucial to Ingall's win. Ambrose had led the championship until he was involved in an incident in the Bathurst 1000 with Greg Murphy. He went on to finish 3rd behind Ingall and Craig Lowndes. Ingall won a single round, while Ambrose took victories in the first and last rounds of the year. Both took multiple podiums, while Ambrose managed a pair of pole positions.

In both 2004 and 2005, SBR won the Team's Championship by comfortable margins.

2006 saw Ambrose leave V8 Supercar to pursue a career in NASCAR, and Pirtek withdrew its sponsorship. Former F1 Test Driver James Courtney was signed to drive the #4 car, now sponsored by JELD-WEN. Ingall continued in the Caltex entry, but couldn't defend his title - eventually finishing a disappointing eighth. Courtney improved throughout the season to finish 11th, and won Rookie of the Year. The highlight of the year was the team's performance at Bathurst, with Courtney and co-driver Glenn Seton third, with Ingall and co-driver Luke Youlden coming in fourth.

Ingall and Courtney continued driving for SBR in 2007, which proved to be an inconsistent season. Courtney scored round podiums in Adelaide, Bathurst and Bahrain, and a pole position in Adelaide; while Ingall managed a podium on the Gold Coast. Along with these strong results came disappointing ones.

It was announced that both Caltex and driver of car #9 Russell Ingall would leave the team after the completion of the 2007 series. The new driver for the 2008 season was Shane Van Gisbergen and SP Tools became the new title sponsor on car #9. Courtney and JELD-WEN continue to be the driver and title sponsor respectively on car #4.

2008 was an average year for SBR, with Courtney and Van Gisbergen doing well in the series. Courtney broke through for his first race win in the series at the team's test track, Queensland Raceway although round wins still proved elusive for the high profile driver. Courtney and Bathurst team mate David Besnard finished third, while Van Gisbergen and Jonathon Webb finished the weekend in the wall at McPhillamy Park.

Courtney left the team at seasons end with formerly European based sportscar racer Alex Davison returning home to steer the #4 Falcon. The team prepared a car in 2009 for one of SBR's two Bathurst winning drivers, Jason Bright as Bright's team Britek Motorsport was a customer of SBR. In 2010, the team undertook the operation of a new satellite team, James Rosenberg Racing who has Tim Slade as their driver.