Greg Ritter

Greg Ritter is an Australian former racing driver who spent the most of his career as an endurance co-driver in the Supercars Championship.

He participated sixteen times at Bathurst 1000, finishing best in the fourth place in 2001 and 2004. His only Supercars victory was at 2004 Sandown 500.

Early in a career, Ritter was the Australian Formula Ford champion in 1999.

Greg Ritter spent most of career with Garry Rogers Motorsport

Ritter was the Australian Formula Ford champion in 1999

Born in February 1973, Greg Ritter started his racing career in the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 1997, driving his own #36 Van Diemen RF94. He finished fifth in the points in his debut season, scoring two podiums.

In 1998, Ritter joined Garry Rogers Motorsport to drive new Van Diemen RF98, scoring again two podiums and finishing fourth in the championship. Finally, in 1999, he scored his maiden Formula Ford victory and added eleven more podiums to his account, driving a Mygale SJ98 for Inspired Racing. He won the championship title with just two-point advantage over Steve Owen and Alex Davison.

V8 Supercars debut in 1999

Steve Owen was Ritter's co-driver in his debut at Bathurst 1000 in November 1999. They were sharing Garry Rogers Motorsport's #35 Holden VT Commodore, finishing the race in the ninth place.

Before making a debut at Mount Panorama, Ritter was driving the #35 Holden at Queensland 500, sharing a car with Matthew Coleman. They were 12th.

Fourth place at 2001 Bathurst 1000

With championship trophy in his hands, Ritter left Formula Ford in 2000 and started his career as an endurance co-driver in the V8 Supercars Championship. In 2000, he raced with Imrie Motorsport and Garry Rogers Motorsport. At Bathurst 1000, he and Tim Leahey didn't finish the race in the #35 GRM Holden VT Commodore.

In 2001, he rejoined Imrie Motorsport in two rounds and joined Dick Johnson Racing at Queensland and Bathurst. He finished fourth at Mount Panorama, sharing the #18 DJR Ford AU Falcon with Cameron McLean. It remained his career-best result at Bathurst 1000.

Sharing a car with former F1 champion in 2002

In 2002, Ritter recorded seven starts in the V8 Supercars Championship with three different cars of Dick Johnson Racing and Briggs Motor Sport. He failed to qualify DJR's #71 Ford at Phillip Island and then raced with that car at Eastern Creek.

Then, he was sharing DJR/Shell Helix Racing's #18 Ford with F1 champion Alan Jones at Queensland (8th) and Bathurst (7th). Finally, at Surfers Paradise, Ritter was driving the #600 Ford for Briggs Motor Sport.

Greg Ritter in the #00 Ford Falcon in 2003

Ten starts in the 2003 V8 Supercars season

Ritter was even more active in 2003, recording ten starts in the V8 Supercars season. He was driving the #00 Ford Falcon for 00 Motorsport in five rounds. His best result was 13th place at Adelaide.

For endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst, Ritter joined Team Brock to share the #16 Holden VX Commodore with Marcus Marshall. They were 22nd at Sandown and retired at Mount Panorama.

Maiden Supercars victory at 2004 Sandown 500

In 2004, Ritter slowed down his racing activities but that didn't prevent him to score his only Supercars victory. He and reigning champion Marcos Ambrose were the winners of Sandown 500 in the #1 Ford BA Falcon of Stone Brothers Racing.

A month later, Ritter was also successful at Bathurst 1000, finishing in the fourth place together with Marcos Ambrose, who defended his title at the end of the season.

Greg Ritter and Marcos Ambrose at 2004 Sandown 500

Full-time drive with Ford Performance Racing in 2005

Ritter spent just one season with Stone Brothers Racing, joining Ford Performance Racing in 2005 as a full-time driver of the #5 Ford BA Falcon. He raced with the team for eleven rounds, being replaced by David Brabham for the last two rounds.

Ritter's best result in 2005 was the eighth place in the Chinese round at Shanghai International Circuit. At Bathurst 1000, he and Cameron McLean finished 18th.

Racing with Garry Rogers Motorsport from 2006 to 2014

After his only Supercars season as a full-time driver, Ritter joined his old team Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2006 to serve again as an endurance co-driver. He stayed in that position until the end of his Supercars career in 2014.

In that period, he recorded ten more starts with GRM at Bathurst 1000. His co-drivers were Cameron McLean, Steven Ellery, David Besnard, Michael Caruso, Lee Holdsworth, Alexandre Premat and Robert Dahlgren. His best result was the fifth place in 2012, together with Michael Caruso in the #34 Holden VE Commodore.

Ending a career in the Touring Masters Series

In his last Supercars season, Ritter was driving a Volvo S60 for GRM. He didn't return to Supercars Championship in 2015, recording only several starts in the Touring Car Masters Series, reserved for classic cars.

He was driving a 1975 Chevrolet Monza in one round in 2015 and then in two rounds in 2016. He won first two races of the season at Adelaide but left the championship after two rounds.

Photos: Supercars,