David A. Finch - Obituary
Engineer, Racecar Driver, Pilot, Mentor, 1948 – 2025
It is with respect and admiration that we announce the passing of David A. Finch, founder of RAETECH and a six-time SCCA GT2 National Champion, who left us on June 16, 2025, at the age of 76. A brilliant engineer, master fabricator, and fierce competitor, David’s legacy is etched into the history of American road racing and Porsche motorsport development.
Always the athlete, starting as a pole vaulting at UCLA then moving into motorsports. He always lived at the limits.
Born in 1948, David's lifelong passion for speed and precision shaped a career that blended engineering brilliance with world-class driving talent. In 1986, he founded RAETECH Motorsports, an extension of his precision engineering firm RAETECH Corporation. Under his leadership, the team partnered with Porsche AG to develop one of the most successful GT2-class road racing cars in SCCA history, a purpose-built, tube-frame Porsche 944.
From 1988 to 2004, David claimed six SCCA GT2 National Championships, with additional runner-up and podium finishes. He was a ten-time SCCA Runoffs pole-sitter and frequently set the benchmark for performance and sportsmanship. His driving achievements earned him the Mark Donohue Award, the SCCA President’s Cup, and the Al Holbert Memorial Award, affirming his status as one of amateur racing’s most accomplished figures.
Taking a break from driving he worked as a designer and race engineer on Dodge Touring Car and Viper endurance racing programs. Eventually returning to his roots in SCCA GT2.
In his spare time he also became a pilot, first sailplanes and then power, earning IFR and Commercial Ratings.
He is survived by his extended RAETECH team, and the drivers and engineers he mentored and inspired throughout his life. David’s influence will continue to live on in the paddocks, workshops, and racetracks where precision and perseverance meet.
A ‘Celebration of Life’ is planned for Sept. 21, 2pm to 5pm, at Raetech.
David Finch - Celebration of Life
