Australian GP chairman Ron Walker in remission after cancer battle
Ron Walker, former Australian Grand Prix chairman, confirms he is cancer-free following years of treatment and has helped bring a life-saving drug to Australia.
Ron Walker, the long-serving chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, has confirmed he is in remission after a prolonged fight with cancer. Walker, who stepped down following the 2015 Melbourne race, said he is now cancer-free after undergoing treatment in the United States.
Walker, 75, was diagnosed with cancer that had spread to multiple organs. Australian doctors reportedly gave him a poor prognosis, prompting him to seek an experimental drug in the US. He described the treatment as expensive but credits it with saving his life.
Walker’s role in the Australian Grand Prix
A prominent figure in Australian business and motorsport, Walker was instrumental in moving the Australian Grand Prix from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1996. He maintained close ties with Bernie Ecclestone and played a key part in securing the race’s place on the Formula One calendar for nearly two decades.
Walker announced his decision to step down as chairman while still undergoing cancer treatment. His tenure ended after the 2015 season opener, marking the conclusion of a period in which he was one of Formula One’s most influential race promoters. For more on the debate surrounding the future of the Australian GP, see Coulthard voices frustration as Australian GP future questioned.
Making treatment available in Australia
Following his recovery, Walker used his political connections to lobby for the experimental drug to be made available in Australia. According to Walker, the drug has since been approved for use, offering hope to other patients facing similar diagnoses. He credits the treatment with saving his life, stating that without it he would not have survived.
