News: Russell Ingall makes the move back to Holden

New two-car Supercheap Auto Racing team revealed - Ingall joins Paul Morris

V8 Supercar Champion Russell Ingall today slipped behind the wheel of a Holden race car for the first time in five years.

Ingall tested the VE Commodore he will drive in next year's V8 championship alongside team-mate Paul Morris for the new, two car Supercheap Auto Racing team at Queensland Raceway, near Brisbane.

The team will be based at Morris' state-of-the-art race facilities at Norwell on the Gold Coast, which also incorporates the Holden Performance Driving Centre.

"I started my V8 career with Holden and spent seven years driving Commodores, so I'm rapt to be back with the new Supercheap Auto Racing team - the change has definitely reignited my fire," said Ingall, who won two Bathurst titles with Holden in 1995 and '97.

It did not take long for the 2005 V8 title winner to adapt to the newer model Commodore, which wore a special, one-off Supercheap Auto ghost livery for the test.

"The Commodore is a little different to what I've been used to for the past five years, but while I won a championship driving a Falcon it required a unique technique, whereas I seem to find the Holden suits my natural driving style better," he said.

"VE Commodore's first year results show it's a great race package and I'm excited about racing it next year."

Ingall is confident his new team will deliver the success which he has become accustomed to in his career.

"Paul (Morris) has put together a tremendous operation - with its personnel, equipment and facilities it's the best kept secret in Australian motor sport," said Ingall.

"I can't understand why more top line drivers haven't beaten a path to Paul's door - he's got a well established team with a strong history, it's perhaps the most financially secure in V8s and the staff are amongst the best in the sport."

"Paul's plans are not only to make it more competitive, but also deliver race wins - and with Supercheap Auto's support and the VE Commodore race it's possible."

"I'm sure there'll be some sceptics out there, but long term they'll see this was a smart move."

"Our ultimate challenge is to win the V8 championship for Supercheap Auto and Holden."

Morris said he Ingall's signing was another step up the competitive V8 Supercar ladder for the Gold Coast-based team.

"For the past six-seven years we have been building our team to the point where we could sign a driver of Russell's calibre and we've now reached that point," said Morris.

"Securing him would not have been possible without a corporate partner and Supercheap Auto has been integral in making it all happen."

"Russell is a V8 Supercar Champion and dual Bathurst winner and we're all looking forward to working with him."

David Ajala, Supercheap Auto's Chief Operating Officer, said he was delighted to continue the company's relationship with V8 Supercars through the signing of a multi-year contract with its new team, complementing its sponsorship of Australia's greatest race, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

"The culture of the V8 Supercar Series - where only the best teams triumph - continues to parallel with our corporate vision for Supercheap Auto, which is providing only the best products and services within the Australasian automotive market," said Ajala.

"We are thrilled to have Russell Ingall and Paul Morris join our new race team, as their passion and enthusiasm for motor sports strikes a chord with the growing audience of racing fans, many of whom are customers of Supercheap Auto."

The 2008 V8 Supercar Championship kicks off with the Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide on 21-24 February.