When you think about famous Australian race car drivers, chances are the first names that come to mind are people such as Peter Brock and motorbike riders such as Wayne Gardener. These people are quite well known in the car/motorbike racing industries but behind them is a man most Australian’s are not familiar with. His name is Rigo Li and he is famed for turning average racers into champions.

Rigo Li came to Australia in the early 1960′s and set up his automotive body shop in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. At the time, he was not involved in competitive racing but spent many weekends racing cars and motorbikes. Over time, he developed a strategy that saw him win many regional and state championships. One day, Rigo had an unfortunate accident which ended his dreams of being a famous race car driver.

After months of drowning his sorrows, Rigo was recruited by Team Holden to train young and up coming race car drivers such as Peter Brock. It was Rigo Li who taught ‘Brockie’ how to become the champion that he was. In his autobiography, Peter Brock dedicated a chapter to Rigo, thanking him for the many years of tuition that he dedicated to Peter’s career. It’s not doubt that Peter Brock would not have become the champion he was without the assistance of Mr Li.

Not long after Rigo Li had passed away, the Rigo Li Racing Academy was set up in order to promote car and motorbike racing in Australia. Since that time, it has assisted in training many young Australian drivers and riders live their dreams of becoming the next Australian racing icon.

Rigo Li was and still remains a true Aussie legend.