TODD KELLY TO HANG UP THE HELMET

Todd Kelly announces retirement from full-time driving – Photo: Supplied

Todd Kelly has announced today that he will retire from full-time driving at the end of the 2017 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

The Nissan Motorsport team co-owner and former Bathurst 1000 champion will call time on his career at the completion of this weekends round in Newcastle.

“I’ve decided to hang up the helmet at the end of this season,” said Kelly.

“To have a 20-year career doing something you love is pretty special. It’s been a long, solid and clean career of being a professional driver. And even though I would probably change a few things if I had my time again, there’s not anything I regret over that period.”

The 38-year-old sits fifth on the list of all-time race starts and has reached the top step of the podium 19 times – including the 2005 Bathurst 1000.

Kelly revealed that a persistent knee injury contributed to today’s announcement.

“I’ve had knee surgery twice this year, and it’s been a decent battle,” continued Kelly.

“Although, there have been positives for having a dodgy knee. I had gone 20 years without perfecting left foot braking, and at SMP this year I had to left foot brake all weekend. By the end of the weekend, I’d gotten pretty good at it. But in such a competitive sport that’s not something you want to develop during an event.”

Kelly started his career racing karts and Formula Ford before making his professional debut at the 1998 Bathurst 1000.

“I love driving, and that’s what kept me going for 20 years. I love getting the most out of a car. I love going around a fast corner having the thing sideways at 240km/h. The fear factor has not crept in as I’ve got older, so I’ve not lost any of that enjoyment at all.”

Todd Kelly decides to hang up helmet after Newcastle – Photo: Supplied

Todd Kelly blazed the trail that his younger brother would follow.  After achieving individual success, both Rick and Todd Kelly combined their experience to launch Kelly Racing in 2009. Four years later, the team rebranded as Nissan Motorsport.

“As a 5-year-old looking up to my big brother (then 8) at the Go-kart track in the country town of Mildura, I had no idea of the 20-year tornado that would follow,” said Rick Kelly. “Todd has contributed so much to the sport in the past 20 years that reaches from Team owner, Commission member, driver, teammate, competitor, across to lifetime friendships”.

“On behalf of the Team, the pit lane and the fans, I thank Todd for his enormous contribution to the sport as a driver. I’m excited for Todd as he tackles the next adventure beyond driving with the same spirit and dedication that he is known for,” said Rick.

Throughout his driving career, Todd Kelly has maintained an engineering passion, from building his early race cars through to developing Nissan’s reintroduction to local motorsport. Today’s announcement provides the opportunity for Todd to further engage with the broader Nissan Motorsport team on race weekends.

“Going to an event and not jumping in the car will take a lot of getting used to. I mean, I don’t even know where to stand in the garage! We’ve spent a great deal of time getting good people into roles within the team, and I’ve spent my whole driving life in a car on the other end of the headset. So I don’t see myself putting the headsets on now taking over other people’s roles in the team. But I certainly have a keen eye for detail, whether it be from car prep to the engineering of the cars. That would be an area I’d like to put a lot of focus in, especially with the driver line up we’ll have next year. With Simona completing 12 months and progressing extremely well, this would allow me to put a bit more time to oversee how she is going.”

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