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Marcos AmbroseAustralian racing driver
Date of Birth: 01.09.1976
Country:  Australia |
Content:
Biography of Marcos Ambrose
Marcos Ambrose, an Australian racing driver, currently drives the number 9 'Ford Fusion' for the 'Richard Petty Motorsports' team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Born on September 1, 1976, in Launceston, a major city in the northeast of the Australian island of Tasmania, Ambrose developed an interest in racing from his father, Ross Ambrose, who was also a racing driver.
Early Career
Ambrose attended Scotch Oakburn College, a local private school, and began karting at the age of 10. He won four junior karting competitions in Tasmania and became the Australian champion in 1995. The following year, he transitioned to Formula Ford.
Formula Ford played a significant role in Ambrose's family, as his father, Ross Ambrose, and Ralph Firman Sr. founded 'Van Diemen,' a company that manufactured racing cars for Formula Ford. In 1997, Ambrose achieved 2nd place in the Australian Formula Ford Championship.
European Pursuit
In 1998 and 1999, Ambrose moved to Europe in an attempt to compete in Formula One. He participated in British Formula Ford and won the European Formula Ford Championship in 1999. In 2000, Ambrose began the season in the French Formula Three Championship but later switched to the British Formula Three Championship. However, due to financial constraints, Ambrose returned to Australia at the end of 2000.
NASCAR Career
In October 2000, Ambrose won the Gold Coast Indy 300, a race held at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit in Queensland, Australia. He represented Australia in the 1996 EFDA Nations Cup in England. Ambrose's achievements earned him the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
In 2001, Ambrose signed a contract with 'Stone Brothers Racing' and began racing in the V8 Supercars series. He impressed by finishing 8th in his first race and was awarded the 'Rookie of the Year' title. Ambrose's success continued, and he finished 3rd in the championship the following season, including a victory at Sandown Raceway.
However, his standout years came in 2003 and 2004 when Ambrose became a two-time champion in the V8 Supercars series. In 2005, he announced his departure from V8 Supercars to pursue a career in NASCAR.
NASCAR Success
Ambrose joined the 'JTG Daugherty Racing' team in 2006 and began competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He later moved to the Nationwide Series, where he achieved success with the same team. Eventually, Ambrose made his way to the Sprint Cup Series, initially driving Fords for 'Wood Brothers Racing' and later Toyotas.
In 2011, Ambrose joined the 'Richard Petty Motorsports' team and secured his first victory at Watkins Glen International, becoming the first Australian to win at that track. Throughout his NASCAR career, Ambrose has participated in 155 races, won multiple times in the Australian V8 Supercars series, and consistently ranked in the top ten drivers.
