Early Years
Ingall began his motor racing career at age 12 competing at the Whyalla go-kart track in South Australia. After winning an Australian Junior and several Senior karting Championships he moved overseas to race karts in Europe before making the transition into Formula Ford. During his karting career he lost his right-index finger at the first joint in an accident, however this didn't affect his racing but did affect his ability.
Competing in only his second Formula Ford event, Ingall finished third in a support race at the 1988 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide. Over the next few years Ingall proved to be a force in the Australian Formula Ford Championship finishing runner-up before claiming the crown in the 1990.
Ingall headed to Europe in 1991. After almost claiming the British Formula Ford Championship in 1991, Ingall moved to Germany to drive for Opel Team Schiubel in the German Formula Three Championship. Ingall also had the opportunity to compete at the Macau Grand Prix and surprised many people by starting 23rd and being in a position by mid-way through the race to overtake David Coulthard for fifth position.
Over the northern winter Ingall competed in the New Zealand Dunlop Formula Ford series, winning easily with 10 victories from 12 races.
Ingall made history in 1993 returning to Britain to drive for the factory Van Diemen team to win 13 out of the 16 races in the British Formula Ford Championship and in the process recording the highest number of wins in a single season in the history of Formula Ford.
The season was finished off by winning one of the most prestigious single-seater events - the Formula Ford Festival and World Cup at Brands Hatch in Britain.
Ingall was never able to live up to his full potential in Europe due to a lack of funding and later returned to Australia. This is a common tale for Australian race drivers in Europe.
Read more about this topic: Russell Ingall
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