THERE’S a new business powerhouse in the Supercars paddock and he’s got no shortage of sporting success under his belt.
The Shell V-Power Racing Team today announced Brett Ralph and his family as a new majority shareholder, buying in under the Melbourne Aces banner.
Ralph’s Jet Couriers business has blossomed into a giant since being founded in 1996, now with branches in all six Australian states plus holding an international presence in Auckland, Dallas, Houston, New York and Philadelphia.
Notoriously private, Ralph has quietly set about building a sporting empire, including as chairman and owner of the Melbourne Aces, which have won the past two Australian Baseball League titles.
“The Melbourne Aces have been a major player in the Australian sporting scene via its involvement in the Australian Baseball League for the past 13 years and are the current holders of the prestigious Claxton Shield, the second oldest trophy in Australian sport,” Ralph said.
“To succeed in sport today, all sporting organisations need to be run like a business and look at diverse ways of investing.
“We know and understand the reach and pull of the Repco Supercars Championship with the sporting fans in Australia, and we are so looking forward to being a part of that.
“Dick Johnson Racing has a proud and rich history in the sport and is a perfect partner for the Melbourne Aces.”
In February 2020, Ralph and his brother Shaun were announced as 10 percent owners of NRL club the Melbourne Storm, a figure that over time rose to 20 percent.
Then Storm chairman Bart Campbell hailed the Ralphs’ loyal support and declared they would “bring business nous, a strong network and an understanding of professional sports through their investments in this space. More importantly they are good people.”
Ralph is also a director of the Sunshine Coast Lightning and Melbourne United franchises that compete in Suncorp Super Netball and the National Basketball League respectively.
Now, he’s moved deeper into the motorsport sector, having already had a minor presence in Dick Johnson Racing.
That had come as a personal sponsor of DJR star Anton De Pasquale, the Jet Couriers logo featuring on his helmet.
DJR executive chairman Ryan Story and founder Dick Johnson continue to own a stake in the team, with Ralph joining them in co-ownership.
The iconic Ford outfit had most recently undergone an ownership change in late 2020, when Team Penske sold the 51 percent share it had purchased six years prior.
