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| Stone Brothers Racing | |
|---|---|
| Name | Stone Brothers Racing |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Base | Queensland, Australia |
| Principal | Ross Stone; Jim Stone |
| Series | Supercars Championship |
| Championships | 2 (2002, 2003) |
| Drivers | Marcos Ambrose; Russell Ingall; David Besnard; Lee Holdsworth; James Courtney |
Stone Brothers Racing was an Australian touring car team that competed primarily in the V8 Supercars Championship between 1998 and 2012. Founded by brothers Ross Stone and Jim Stone after a split from Garry Rogers Motorsport, the team rose to prominence through technical innovation, talent development, and championship successes with drivers who later moved to international motorsport platforms. Stone Brothers Racing combined grassroots Australian motorsport connections with professional engineering practices drawn from teams such as Dick Johnson Racing and Triple Eight Race Engineering.
Stone Brothers Racing originated when Ross Stone and Jim Stone left Garry Rogers Motorsport in 1998 to establish an independent operation based in Ipswich, Queensland. Early years saw entries in endurance events like the Bathurst 1000 and full seasons in the V8 Supercar Championship Series alongside established teams including Perkins Engineering and Garry Rogers Motorsport. The team secured its breakthrough when Marcos Ambrose delivered back-to-back drivers' championships in 2001–2003, solidifying SBR within the era dominated by outfits such as HSV Dealer Team and Holden Racing Team. Over its lifespan SBR navigated regulatory changes implemented by the V8 Supercars category, shifting manufacturer alliances, and the increasing professionalisation exemplified by rivals like Walkinshaw Racing.
Leadership centered on Ross Stone as team principal and Jim Stone overseeing engineering operations, drawing personnel from Australian institutions such as Victorian Institute of Sport affiliates and technical staff with backgrounds at Tasman Motorsport. Key engineering figures included chief engineers who previously worked at Ford Performance Racing and Penske Racing-aligned workshops. Driver management and commercial operations interfaced with agencies linked to personalities like Alan Jones and Mark Skaife. The pit crew and race engineers regularly traded personnel with TeamVodafone and smaller squads, creating a talent pipeline for technicians and mechanics who later joined teams such as Stone Brothers Racing alumni-run enterprises and international programmes in British Touring Car Championship and American Le Mans Series.
SBR campaigned Ford Falcon models, sourcing chassis and aerodynamic development influenced by suppliers and competitors including Tickford Racing and specialists with experience at Supercars Engineering consultancies. The team integrated bespoke suspension geometry and engine calibration strategies consistent with practices at Triple Eight Race Engineering and Walkinshaw Racing, while adapting to control components mandated by Supercars regulations. SBR's technical programme emphasized data acquisition systems similar to those used by Red Bull Racing in open-wheel categories and simulation approaches adopted by McLaren-linked consultancies. Innovations included and refined setups for ovals and road courses like Bathurst Circuit and Sandown Raceway, often tested during events such as the Bathurst 24 Hour and national test days.
Stone Brothers Racing achieved two drivers' championships and multiple round victories, competing against teams like HRT-affiliated entries and Ford Performance Racing. SBR's strongest period coincided with the early 2000s, featuring consistent podiums at marquee rounds including the Bathurst 1000 and the Sandown 500. Endurance pairings involved drivers who had links to international series such as IndyCar and NASCAR, reflecting SBR's competitive ambitions. The team also recorded success in non-championship events and feeder categories related to V8 Utes and development series that fed talent to the main championship.
Drivers associated with SBR include Marcos Ambrose, whose championships propelled him to NASCAR competition; Russell Ingall, a prominent figure in Australian touring cars; David Besnard; Lee Holdsworth; and James Courtney, who later raced in European series. Many SBR drivers maintained connections to Australian motorsport institutions like Australian Racing Drivers Club and later transitioned to teams such as Garry Rogers Motorsport, Dick Johnson Racing, and international operations including Wood Brothers Racing.
SBR secured major commercial partnerships with corporate backers from sectors represented by entities such as Supercheap Auto, Pirtek, and retailers that supported teams like HSV Dealer Team and Ford Performance Racing. Technical partnerships included collaborations with engine builders and suppliers who had prior associations with Perkins Engineering and Prodrive. Marketing alliances tied the team to media partners that covered the V8 Supercars Championship and national sponsors who engaged with touring car audiences via events at circuits including Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
Stone Brothers Racing left a legacy as one of the formative teams of the modern V8 Supercars era, contributing to driver development pathways and technical standards subsequently adopted by organisations such as Triple Eight Race Engineering and Brad Jones Racing. Alumni from SBR populated engineering and driving roles across Australian teams and international series, influencing practices in touring car setups and race operations similar to those employed by Red Bull Holden Racing Team and other championship-winning squads. The team's history is interwoven with marquee Australian motorsport events like the Bathurst 1000 and continues to be referenced in analyses of the sport's professionalisation and commercial evolution.
Category:Supercars Championship teams