For many leading drivers, Sonic Motor Racing Services is a rite of passage.
Founded in the late-1990s, Sonic is arguably the leading team in developing young driver talent and has done so for the best part of 25-years.
Led by Mick and Maria Ritter, Sonic currently competes in the National Ford Formula Ford Series alongside parallel programs in multiple states, Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge.
Names including Jamie Whincup, David Reynolds, James Moffat, Anton De Pasquale, Will and Alex Davison, Nick Percat and of latter times international GT driver Jordan Love have walked through the doors of the Sonic workshop.
After returning from the UK in the mid-1990s, Ritter returned to head Mygale importer Dugal McDougall’s Formula Ford operation before an opportunity arose leading to the formation of Sonic.
“I got approached indirectly from Richard Davison to see whether or not I’d be keen to look after, initially Alex and later Will,” Ritter recalled.
“We got that moving in late-1997 and that pretty quickly morphed into the start of Sonic. Richard and I had discussed it a little bit, and saw a good opportunity for his boys, which was also one for me as well to build and create our own thing.
“John Blanchard was kind enough to lease me a premises at reduced rent in Lexton Road Box Hill, so it just grew from there.”
Located now in Bayswater North across two factories, Sonic’s workshop is a hive of activity particularly with a frantic end to this season where fabrication, engine, gearbox and any other related repairs or maintenance is undertaken by six full-time staff.
This swells upwards of 25 on a race weekend.
“We’re bursting at the seams once again, no question,” said Ritter
“We basically do everything in house except for paint, high level composite stuff and big CNC mill work we outsource, but fabrication, gearboxes, whatever else we do here.”
For 20 years it has been at this facility and don’t be surprised if a rising star is twiddling the spanners on the team’s array of race cars.
“We’ve done that for a long time, we involve some of the young drivers that come into Formula Ford from karting backgrounds have actually been very hands-on with their car, so they’ve got a real interest in it,” Ritter explained.
“That for me is something that has been beneficial for us, but it has been for those guys as well by learning what happens behind the scenes.”
Outside of its Formula Ford and Porsche programs, Sonic formally competed successfully in the Super2 Series. But it is Formula Ford that is the heart of the business with it beginning the career ascension.
One that has played an important part in many driver’s careers.
“The driver is the most important part of the puzzle and it’s something everyone here at Sonic is invested in developing the driver,” Ritter explained.
“It means a lot to see young drivers that have come through our programs who have got it, they’ve got the work ethic and everything else, when you see them make successful careers out of the sport it’s ultimately satisfying.”
