David Russell

David Russell is an Australian racing driver who made his name in the Supercars Championship, mostly serving as an endurance co-driver. In other Australian competitions, he spent few seasons in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, finishing best in the third place, few seasons in the Australian GT Production Car Championship, finishing best in the second place, and few seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup, finishing best as a vice-champion in 2015.

Russell raced a lot at Mount Panorama Circuit, participating ten times in the Bathurst 1000 with 8th place as his best result. He was much more successful in the Bathurst 24 Hour and Bathurst 12 Hour, scoring three class victories.

David Russell

Starting a career in the Production Car Championship

Born in January 1982 in Casino, New South Wales, David Russell started his racing career in the 2000 Australian GT Production Car Championship, driving a Suzuki Swift GTi and finishing sixth in Class E. In 2001, he stayed in the same class with Proton Satria GTi, finishing second in the points behind Luke Youlden in a Holden Astra.

In 2002, his second championship season with Proton, Russell scored three wins but finished only fourth in the Class E points and sixth overall.

Class victory at 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour

In November 2002, Russell participated in the inaugural Bathurst 24 Hour race, driving the #62 Holden VX Commodore SS for Loadsman Racing Team. Sharing a car with Scott Loadsman, Ian Luff and Ray Lintott, he finished ninth overall and the first in a Group 9.

Next year, Russell repeated a participation at the 24-hour race with Loadsman's Holden, finishing fourth in a class and 26th overall.

David Russell participated two times at Bathurst 24 Hour in the #62 Loadsman Holden

Vice-champion in the Australian Production Car Championship

In 2003, Russell continued to race with Proton Satria GTi in the Australian Production Car Championship,  being the best in class and finishing third overall in the championship.

In 2004, what was his last season in the Australian Production Car Championship, he was again the best in class and second overall in the final standings, driving a Proton Satria GTi.

V8 Supercars debut in 2003

In 2003, while driving regularly in the Production Car Championship, Russell made a V8 Supercars debut. He participated in a full season in the Konica V8 Supercar Series, driving the #110 Ford AU Falcon. Without wins or podiums, he finished 12th in the points.

In October 2003, he made a debut at Bathurst 1000 race, driving the #55 Ford AU Falcon for Fernandez Racing. He and Jose Fernandez retired after 113 laps.

David Russell made his Bathurst 1000 debut in 2003

Three seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup

David Russell was out of racing in 2005 and then he returned in 2006, participating in the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup. Driving the #9 Porsche for Sherrin Motorsport, he scored two podiums in his first season to finish sixth in the points.

In 2007, Russell stayed with the team in the #6 Porsche, scoring one podium to finish 8th in the points. In 2008, he was a race winner two times to finish third in the championship, behind Craig Baird and Dean Fiore.

Class victory at 2007 Bathurst 12 Hour

While competing in the Carrera Cup, Russell raced occasionally in other competitions. In April 2007, he was driving a BMW 130i for Australian Motor Finance at Bathurst 12 Hour, finishing sixth overall and the winner in Class C. His co-drivers were Shaun Juniper and Andrew Moffat.

In 2008, Russell and Grant Sherrin won the Porsche Centre Gold Coast 500 race in a Ford AU Falcon. In the same year, he also participated in one round of the 24H Series with Juniper Racing's Porsche.

David Russell was driving the #27 Ford in the 2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series

Return to V8 Supercar racing in 2009

In 2009, Russell returned to V8 Supercars racing, participating full season in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series with Howard Racing. Driving the #27 Ford BF Falcon, he was a race winner four times to finish third in the championship, behind Jonathon Webb and James Moffat.

In 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar season, Russell moved to MW Motorsport to drive the #28 Ford BF Falcon. He was a race winner four times, including both races at Mount Panorama, to finish fifth in the final standings.

In October 2010, Russell returned to Bathurst 1000 for the first time in seven years, joining Jonathon Webb in the #19 Tekno Autosports Ford FG Falcon. They finished 19th.

David Russell was driving the #28 Ford falcon in 2010 and 2011

Class victory at 2011 Bathurst 12 Hour

In February 2011, Russell opened a season with participation at Bathurst 12 Hour, driving the #23 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup for Falcon Property Group. His co-drivers were Roger Lago and Matt Kingsley. They finished fifth overall and the winner of Class B.

Russell and Lago participated together in the race next year, sharing a Lamborghini Gallardo with Wayne Park but not finishing the race.

2011 – last full season in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series

In 2011, Russell stayed with MW Motorsport in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, what was his last full season in that competition. Driving the #28 Ford BF Falcon, he scored seven podiums to finish third in the points, behind Andrew Thompson and Jack Perkins.

In 2011, Russell also participated in the Commodore Cup National Series, sharing a car in two rounds with Tony Bates.

David Russell's #16 Dreamtime Holden in 2016

Joining Kelly Racing as an endurance co-driver in 2011

In 2011, Russell also joined Kelly Racing for the first time as an endurance co-driver in the V8 Supercars Championship, what remained his job until today. In his first year with Kelly Racing, he was sharing the #7 Holden VE Commodore with Todd Kelly at Phillip Island (14th) and Bathurst (25th).

In 2012, Russell spent half of the season in the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series, scoring one victory in the #16 Dreamtime Racing's Holden. In the V8 Supercars Championship, he was Rick Kelly's co-driver at Sandown and Bathurst in the #15 Holden, but also raced alone in the #51 Holden as a replacement for injured Greg Murphy in two rounds.

In 2012, Russell also scored one GT racing victory, together with Roger Lago at Sydney's round of the Australian GT Championship, driving a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 GT3.

David Russell in 2013

Racing with Nissan Motorsport since 2013

In 2013, Kelly Racing became Nissan Motorsport and the team started to run with Nissan Altimas. Russell was an endurance co-driver to Todd Kelly in the #7 car. He had an unusual crash at Bathurst 1000, hitting a kangaroo.

In 2013, Russell also recorded good result at Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (today Sepang 12 Hours), driving a Lamborghini Gallardo for Lago Racing. He, Roger Lago and Peter Kox finished in the second place.

Career-best 8th place at 2014 Bathurst 1000

In 2014, Russell joined Rick Kelly again as an endurance co-driver in the #15 Nissan Altima. They finished 8th at Bathurst 1000, what was Russell's best result in the greatest Australian race.

In other competitions, he joined Roger Lago in one round of the Australian GT Championship and at Spa 24 Hours, not finishing both races. He was also driving the #23 Lago Racing Porsche in the Australian Carrera Cup, finishing 19th in the points.

Russell was second in the 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup with #10 Finance Ezi Porsche

Porsche Carrera Cup vice-champion in 2015

In 2015, Russell expanded his activities in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and managed to score eleven podiums, including a victory at Mount Panorama, to finish second in the championship points behind Nick Foster.

Of other GT races, Russell joined Tomaš Enge in Austrian round of the ADAC GT Masters, winning one race and finishing second in another race with Lamborghini Gallardo. At Bathurst 12 Hour, he finished seventh in Lago Racing's Lamborghini.

Rick Kelly and David Russell at 2015 Gold Coast 600, celebrating Russell's first V8 Supercars podium

Maiden V8 Supercars podium at 2015 Gold Coast 600

In the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship, Russell was a partner to Rick Kelly in the #15 Nissan Altima, reaching second place in Sunday's race of Gold Coast 600 event. At Bathurst 1000, they were 16th.

In 2016, Russell was sharing the #96 Nissan with Dale Wood in four races, finishing ninth at Bathurst 1000.

At 2016 Bathurst 12 Hours, Russell was driving a Bentley Continental GT3, finishing in the seventh place together with Andy Soucek and Maxime Soulet. At Spa 24 Hours, he finished only 35th in Lago Racing's Lamborghini Gallardo.

David Russell and Simona de Silvestro were teammates at 2017 Bathurst 1000

Co-driver to Simona de Silvestro in 2017

In the 2017 V8 Supercars Championship season, Russell was a co-driver to Simona de Silvestro in the #78 Nissan Altima. They retired at Bathurst 1000, finished 18th at Sandown and 16th/23rd in two races at Surfers Paradise.

In GT racing, Russell finished sixth overall and second in Am class at Bathurst 12 Hour, sharing a Lamborghini Gallardo with Roger Lago and Steve Owen. He was also driving a Gallardo in few rounds of the Australian GT Championship and Australian Endurance Championship.

Russell joined Tickford Racing in 2018

After seven years with Kelly Racing/Nissan Motorsport, Russell changed a team in 2018, joining Tickford Racing in endurance races of the Supercars Championship, as a co-driver to Cameron Waters in the #6 Ford Falcon. They failed to finish the Bathurst 1000. At Bathurst 12 Hour, Russell repeated a participation with Lago Racing's Lamborghini, finishing seventh in ProAm class. In 2019, he was out of Supercars Championship, participating mostly in GT races.

Photos: David Russell, motorsport.com,