Driver Patrick Atherton is an eclectic individual. Born sometime slightly before the 1970's to a family of mostly artistic people, he caught the motor racing bug in 1982 after watching Bathurst. Touring car racing was very well marketed back then, and drew Patrick into it's spell by a simple method: Peter Brock won in a Commodore. Patrick thought "My Dad's name is Peter. He drives a Commodore. What a cool sport!". That was all it took.

Being an indecisive character (he's not sure if he still is) choosing a career was a stumbling block. He constantly tried to find a career which a) he was capable of and b) would make enough money to go motor racing. Never the twain shall meet.

But he cobbled together enough money to buy an Austin Healey Sprite and punt it in club circuit sprints. His first meeting was Winton, 1988, where he drove it from Adelaide. It fell apart along the way and he drove most of the trip with no brakes.

But he still go to race thanks to some faries fixing his car while he was asleep. Or it might have been helpful club members. We're not sure.

A few more circuit meetings followed. Next came joblessness. Then a drought. Then came marriage to a beautiful nurse called Sharon. Unfortunately rumours that they met in hospital where Patrick was recovering from a horrific and spectacular race crash are largely unfounded. The truth is somewhat less interesting.

It turned out to be a perfect union for so many reasons......not least of which was the extra income. Back into motor racing- this time sprint karts. Then came kids, and another break from the circuit.

A move to Melbourne to work for Lagler then produced the sponsorship required to go racing again. This time in Road Race Karts, or superkarts as they are otherwise known. Working for Lagler produced other perks, such as a trip to Germany to drive at the Nurburgring (although he was supposed to be there to look at floorsanding machine manufacture).

So, just as he reaches an age where things should be slowing down, he begins a whole new exciting era. Or maybe this is all just a mid-life crisis come early.

Official HYPER RACER driver profile here