RIP Rod Barrett

The Australian automotive and motorsport industries are mourning the passing of Rod Barrett.

The widely liked and respected 59-year-old died this week after a long fight with cancer.

Born in Hobart, Barrett harboured a dream to be a professional racing driver before parking the helmet and pursuing a commercial career.

He held significant positions across racing and automotive, both here and in the UK.

Barrett was perhaps best known as the general manager of Ford Performance Vehicles between 2007 and 2012.

He was at the helm of the hot tuner at a time when it rolled out some of its most memorable Falcon-based models and introduced the Miami supercharged V8.

“Rod was just plain and simple, a good bloke,” friend and business colleague David Segal said. “He was passionate, he was loyal and he loved motorsport.

“He was a true enthusiast for all things motor racing and the automotive industry, strongly opinionated at times and an insightful observer. Rod had an absolute passion for everything he did, and his knowledge of Australian motorsport and our performance car heritage was ridiculous – encyclopaedic, in fact.

“Rod understood the FPV buyer like no other boss before or since, and the products produced under his reign stand as the best ever produced by the brand. FPV’s success in that period stands as his legacy.”

Rod is survived by his son Luke. His ex-wife Ann Neal is the partner of former ex-Formula 1 driver Mark Webber.

Rod Barrett’s friends and colleagues from the Australian motorsport and automotive communities are welcome to join his family in celebration of his life next Wednesday, February 5 at 12:30pm.

The Boyd Chapel
Springvale Botanical Cemetery
600 Princes Highway
Springvale, Victoria 3171

The request is no flowers and, at Rod’s specific instruction, no black!

The service will be followed by refreshments and all are welcome to stay on.

To help manage expectations on numbers, please confirm your attendance by emailing rjb44service@gmail.com.

Image: Tickford Racing