Rusty's Garage

With thanks to Oscar and the team at McLaren Rusty continues something of a Singapore tradition of catching up on the eve of the event.

Some reflections of last week’s crazy GP in Malaysia and his decision to pit at a critical moment to change tyres. Even with all the data in this game now drivers making a call like that from the cockpit shows their brilliance.

Coping with heat and humidity for back-to-back weekends and how compressed it is for drivers and teams on a Sprint round like this one.

What he thinks McLaren’s chances are like here at Marina Bay and the continued learnings from the complex new gen cars.

Plus switching off when the spotlight in this Box Office sport is permanently on and is he keeping a little eye on the Bathurst 1000?

This is a ripper chat with a Double Coated Tim Tam wager…..it’ll make sense when you listen. 

00:00 Introduction - Singapore Preview with Oscar Piastri
00:31 Malaysia Madness - Reflecting on the Wet Weather Gamble
02:10 Singapore Sprint Weekend - Track Conditions and Expectations
03:35 The Heat Challenge - Back-to-Back Races in Brutal Climates
05:16 New Gen Cars - Progress and Adaptation Since Melbourne
07:00 The Biggest Challenges - Power Units and Driving Style Changes
08:24 Life in the Spotlight - Managing Pressure and Finding Downtime
09:45 Bathurst Dreams and Tim Tams - Wrapping Up

Check Out the Podcast: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/rustys-garage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thrusta1/

X: https://x.com/Thrusta1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrusta1/

Check out more from LiSTNR Sport: https://www.instagram.com/listnrsport/

Rusty is joined by Craig ‘Junior’ Lowndes, former HRT team boss Jeff ‘Hog’ Grech & loyal Brock Lieutenant Graeme ‘Mort’ Brown for this special edition.
A group of colleagues and co-workers who became close friends share their stories of the King of the Mountain. Being in awe of him….what those first meetings were like and the impact he had.
The cars….the co-drivers…..the unforgettable races.
Mentoring Lowndes and the learnings CL carries with him to this day as he prepares for his 33rd start chasing win number 8.
How Brock mellowed in the final years before his passing and what he perhaps would have been doing now at age 81. Plus the power of the Brock bond that permeated the teams he led, even on the tough days.
Peter might have left us suddenly after a rally crash in WA in September 2006 but his legacy lives on.
Enjoy some Brock convo with those who knew him best and have a fantastic Bathurst week.
Check Out the Podcast: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/rustys-garage
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thrusta1/
X: https://x.com/Thrusta1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrusta1/
Check out more from LiSTNR Sport: https://www.instagram.com/listnrsport/

His vivid memories of a frightening crash at Lakeside in a Sierra and how he’s since brought that car back to life.

What it was like working with the late greats - Peter Brock and Allan Moffat.

Recollections of passing an “electrical apprenticeship” during the Bathurst 1000.

The joy of racing with his son George and winning some significant races.

Keeping an eye on future talent like Blake Tracey, Rylan Gray (and more) and helping them on the pathway.

Forging ties with Multimatic and becoming a world leader in sales of Ford GT racing product….man they have a strong presence in this part of the world.

Plus a soft spot for Muscle Car Masters and the importance of being open to change as a Dealer Group (on the road car side) as a wave of new brands grow their market share downunder.

It’s taken a while to make this one happen (that’s on Rusty not Andrew) but as you’ll hear the wait is worth it.  Cracking chat!

Head to Rusty’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback, and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty’s Garage.

Check Out the Podcast: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/rustys-garage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thrusta1/

X: https://x.com/Thrusta1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrusta1/

Check out more from LiSTNR Sport: https://www.instagram.com/listnrsport/

Chapter Markers

00:00 Introduction - Setting the Stage for Part 2
00:53 The 1984 Bob Jane Playboy Porsche - Racing the 962
05:46 1986 Bathurst - AMG Mercedes and Helmut Marko
09:15 Helmet Marko's Philosophy - Truth Serum for Young Racers
11:54 The Sierra Restorations - Bringing History Back to Life
16:04 The Don Smith Sierra - Birth of a Touring Car Career
19:13 1987 Bathurst - Leading a World Championship Race
21:05 Lakeside Fire - The Day That Nearly Ended It All
25:20 Peter Brock Memories - Joining the Team
30:08 The VP Bathurst Drama - Hot Wiring to Victory
33:15 Remembering Brock and Moffat - Two Legends
38:34 Racing with George - Father and Son Success
39:47 Touring Car Masters and TA2 - Pure Driving Fun
40:42 Still Racing - Formula Atlantic and Future Plans
41:16 Multimatic and the Mustang GT4 Empire

Growing up in the Apple Isle and being wowed by some absolute heroes of the day at the legendary Longford track.
Borrowing money from his Mum and channeling it into a race car.
Getting into the car business and working in Sydney’s epicenter then on Parramatta Road…the lessons it taught him for the future. 
Chasing the open wheeler dream and going to England only to be told he probably didn’t have enough dough and he should turn around and go back to Australia!
Changing tack to win some big races in Asia and keeping an open wheeler on the wall for decades before restoring it (period correct) and hitting the track in it again.
Plus a recent mission for Ford to run a GT3 car in Japan with some gun international drivers and why he believes in “saying yes to opportunity and working it out later”.
We recorded this one in the Listnr studios after the GT Festival Sydney but we may as well have sat in the transporter because it feels like one of those cool, end of race day, convos.  Enjoy.
Head to Rusty’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback, and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty’s Garage.
Check Out the Podcast: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/rustys-garage
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thrusta1/
X: https://x.com/Thrusta1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrusta1/
Check out more from LiSTNR Sport: https://www.instagram.com/listnrsport/

We’re at Sydney Motorsport Park for this one to chat with the founder of SRO Motorsport Group Stephane Ratel.
The story of how it all started & the incredible footprint they now have around the world.
Why he says they’ve “built the house, now they want to furnish it”.
His impressions of the great work being done in Australia as the headline act of the Shannon’s Speed Series.
Plus the global growth of GT4, the signing of former F1 Race Director Michael Masi and much more.
We sat in a corporate box at Sydney Motorsport Park, ahead of the weekend’s night racing, & just hit record. 
Stephane has a quiet presence at first but that all changes the moment you start talking about his beloved GT racing.
Head to Rusty’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback, and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty’s Garage.
Check Out the Podcast: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/rustys-garage
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thrusta1/
X: https://x.com/Thrusta1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrusta1/
Check out more from LiSTNR Sport: https://www.instagram.com/listnrsport