ANDRA was on-hand at the ceremony to support Santo Rapisarda in receiving this recognition. (L-R: Tim Stewart and Sue Stewart, members of the Victoria Divisional Council for ANDRA, Santo Rapisarda, Scott Halfyard – ANDRA Technical Officer).

Top Fuel legend Santo Rapisarda has been inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame at an official ceremony as part of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne today.

The Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame is the highest honour in Australian motorsport – an exclusive honour-roll made up of less than one inductee for each of the 125 years motorsport has occurred in Australia.

A prominent figure in Australia’s drag racing community known for his passion and dedication to the sport, Rapisarda is the owner of Rapisarda Autosport International.

Across many decades, RAI has made significant contributions to the Top Fuel racing scene in Australia, picking up 12 national titles along the way, and has also competed overseas.

For Rapisarda, drag racing is a family sport through and through – a number of his children are heavily involved in RAI, including sons and crew chiefs Santo Jnr and Santino; and the team races in honour of Rapisarda’s son Louie, who was killed at the age of 23 in July 1990 at Willowbank Raceway in a drag racing incident.

“To be inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame is something that is a massive honour, it is overwhelming,” Rapisarda said.

“I love Top Fuel racing, and I have been so proud to be a part of it here in Australia and overseas side by side with my family for such a long time, and I am not planning on slowing up anytime soon!

“Drag racing is an amazing sport, and to be recognised for what we do together as a team is very rewarding. This is as much about me as it is about my kids and my crew and our drivers, and I thank them for all of their support and hard work over the decades.”

The Australian National Drag Racing Association congratulates Rapisarda and all of his fellow inductees on their induction today.

“The name Santo Rapisarda is synonymous with Top Fuel racing in Australia, and the impact he has made here and the investment he has made is immeasurable,” ANDRA CEO Tim McAvaney said.

“There is no doubt that he is very deserving of this prestigious honour, and we are so pleased to see him recognised in this way.

“Santo has been a leader within Australian drag racing, and his team is a title winning force to be reckoned with. We hope you will join us in congratulating him on joining a wonderful group of drag racing legends in the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.”

Rapisarda was one of six inductees honoured today, alongside the Repco-Brabham BT19 – the first car to be inducted – as well as seven-time Supercars Champion, Jamie Whincup; leading official and entrepreneur Garry Connelly AM, who was crucial to the formation of Rally Australia; Top Fuel drag racing team owner Santo Rapisarda, with more than 12 national titles; World Motorcycle Enduro Champion, Shane Watts; and the late Ken Blake, an 11-time Australian motorcycle road race champion.

“Santo Rapisarda’s top fuel drag racing progression is one of the most inspiring stories in motorsport. His son, Louie, was killed in a high speed drag racing crash, and Santo, after a period of mourning, races in Louie’s memory. He has invested more in the development of his sport than even he can calculate and he does it all out of love,” Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame Chairman, John Smailes, said.

Rapisarda joins a list of drag racing leaders in the Hall of Fame, including Chris Matheson (2025), Graham Withers (2024), Victor Bray (2023), Eddie Thomas (2019), Larry Ormsby OAM (2019), Graeme Cowin (2018), Jim Read (2017) and Ash Marshall (2016).

To learn more about the Hall of Fame, go to www.australianmotorsporthalloffame.com.au

For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au