Senior Technician Graham McKinley brings a wealth of international rallying experience to the Maximum team.

A born-and-bred Perth boy, Graham started as an apprentice mechanic with a suburban car dealership. But motorsport called and once his apprenticeship was complete, Graham moved east to Sydney to join Doug Stewart’s Ralliart team.

Between 1988 and 1992, Graham was an integral part of Ralliart’s success in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, the team winning championships in ’91 and ’92 with lead driver Ross Dunkerton.

Having tasted victories at an international level, Graham moved to Europe. From 1993-98, Graham proved himself in world’s premiere rally championship, the WRC.

Starting as a Car Build Technician for Andrew Cowan’s Ralliart team, he was quickly promoted to Senior Technician for Tommi Makinen. It was a partnership that quickly bore fruit, with Makinen crowned champion in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Graham also had the opportunity to work with some the WRCs best-known drivers, including Kenneth Eriksson, Richard Burns, Armin Schwarz, Freddy Loix and Ari Vatanen.

The last two years of his time at Ralliart were spent as On-Event Co-ordinator, Graham responsible for the service of the team rally cars and management of 20 mechanics.

His final year was celebrated with Makinen winning the third of four WRC championships, and the team winning the Manufacturers title for Mitsubishi, the only time the Japanese car maker has won the title.

And just to round off a stellar season, Graham himself won the British 125cc Kart Championship.

Returning to Perth at the start of 1999, Graham spent the next seven years working at a variety of local motorsport outfits and dealerships, including the preparation of off-road buggies for the Australian Championship.

An occasional contractor for Maximum Motorsport during those years, Graham started full-time with the team at the beginning of 2008, and now oversees the preparation, service and maintenance of both rally and road cars.