RUSSELL Ingall and Broc Feeney’s wildcard entry for the Repco Bathurst 1000 will set a new record for age differences between driver pairings in the Supercars era of the ‘Great Race’.
Their gap of 38 years and 236 days will beat the current record by over four years when the red lights go out on race day at Mount Panorama this October.
But who are the current record holders?
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We’ve gone through our AN1 Data records and come up with the top five from the five-litre/Supercars era.
And there’s one legendary name that pops up a few times…
No.5 – ALAN JONES/ADAM MACROW
Age difference of 32 years and 21 days
One of just two Ford combos in this list, the 51-year-old former Formula 1 World Champion paired with the 19-year-old recently crowned Australian Formula Ford Champion in the second Longhurst Racing entry for the 1998 FAI 1000 Classic.
Their Sandown enduro had ended with a broken driveshaft on the start line and their Mountain excursion was little better; the #9 Falcon’s race ended in a multi-car crash at Forrest’s Elbow before half-distance.
No.4 – LARRY PERKINS/PAUL DUMBRELL
Age difference of 32 years and 167 days
Fresh from a dominant run to the 2002 Konica Series crown, a 20-year-old Paul Dumbrell joined a 52-year-old Larry Perkins for the latter’s final Bathurst start as a full-time driver.
The pair’s steady run to fifth place completed a perfect sweep of the top five for Holden; for 2003, Dumbrell stepped up to the ‘main game’ full time aboard one of Perkins’ cars.
No.3 – JIM RICHARDS/JAMES COURTNEY
Age difference of 32 years and 301 days
After several seasons recruiting veterans or overseas stars – or both – for its second car, the Holden Racing Team opted for a youth and experience policy for 2005.
At 58 years young, Jim Richards ticked the latter box in lining up for his 34th ‘Great Race’ start, while the 2005 race marked 25-year-old James Courtney’s Bathurst debut.
No.2 – JIM RICHARDS/DEAN CANTO
Age difference of 33 years and 22 days
Before becoming HRT’s trusted go-to veteran, Richards joined son Steven at Glenn Seton’s two-car Ford Tickford Racing squad for the 2001 enduros.
While Steven drove with regular teammate Seton in the lead #5 entry, FTR paired a 54-year-old Richards with 21-year-old reigning Konica Series champion Dean Canto – and the pair were the first of the team’s cars home in fifth.
No.1 – JIM RICHARDS/RYAN BRISCOE
Age difference of 34 years and 22 days
In 2006, HRT paired 59-year-old Richards with 25-year-old international star Ryan Briscoe – the latter impressing by scoring provisional pole for the Sandown 500 in his maiden V8 Supercars event.
The pair were out early at the Mountain however, and the race marked seven-time victor Richards’ last ‘Great Race’ start.
