V8 Supercar: Ingall returns to replace Courtney

Russell Ingall will come out of retirement to replace the injured James Courtney in the Holden Racing Team at next month's V8 Supercars Sandown 500.

The 2005 champion stepped out of the cockpit at the end of last year, having raced full-time in the class since 1996. Ingall raced a Walkinshaw Racing Commodore in 2012 and '13, and has been called up by the squad to stand-in for Courtney in its #22 HRT entry with Jack Perkins.

Courtney suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in a freak off-track accident caused by a helicopter at Eastern Creek last Friday, and has ruled out Sandown to focus on being fit for the Bathurst 1000 in October.

"It's a tough situation – I'm not happy about missing the race, but if I have to then we need someone familiar with HRT and our cars, and Russell fits the bill," Courtney said. "He's the logical choice because he's a mate fresh from full-time driving. The team know him well and he and Jack have a lot of history together."

Ingall, who has taken on a commentary role in 2015, spent the bulk of the late 1990s as HRT's leading on-track challenger.

"Racing a red Commodore for Holden's factory team is at the top of every driver's wish list, including mine, and I thought my chance had passed," he said. "To add my name to the list of the sport's greats who have driven for HRT will be very special."

Ingall and Perkins teamed up in the 2011 V8 Supercar enduros, finishing eighth at Bathurst. With Jack's father Larry, Ingall won the Sandown 500 in 1998 and the Bathurst 1000 in '95 and '97.

Originally on Autosport.com