Charlie Cox, the voice of British Touring Cars in the late Nineties, will commentate on the first ever BTCC Masters race at Donington Park, Leicestershire on 26 September.
Cox will partner current ‘anchorman’ Ben Edwards for the race, which will be broadcast live on satellite television channel Motors TV. It will also be screened on Speed Sunday on ITV1 the following Sunday 3 October in a post-produced, ‘behind-the-scenes’ race highlights programme.
Cox had the difficult task of taking over at the microphone at BTCC events from commentating legend Murray Walker, but the Australian’s passion, knowledge, sense of humour and witty one-liners shone through immediately. Joined by ex-Formula One driver John Watson, Cox was an instant hit with BBC viewers from 1997-2001.
This probably stemmed from the fact he had raced in the BTCC in 1995. He made an impact then too when he memorably rolled his Ford Mondeo out of sight at high speed at Thruxton. And it was from Thruxton that Cox would later deliver one of his most memorable lines as a commentator: “He’s got about as much grip as a dog on lino.”
Cox said he had no second thoughts about commentating on the Masters – a 20-lap race for 16 champions and heroes of the BTCC’s two-litre era in identical SEAT Cupras.
“I think all these Masters are going to get the red mist and go mad,” said Cox. “I can’t wait for parc ferme afterwards! It’s going to be absolutely hilarious watching them remonstrating with each other.
“Seriously, I’ve always been a BTCC fan – I love it. This is a fantastic grid of very exciting racing drivers and, best of all, each one of them is a personality. The atmosphere throughout the whole weekend, on and off the track, is going to be great fun.”
Having commentated on the BTCC since the mid-Nineties up to its current high-profile coverage on ITV1, Ben Edwards believes the Masters is a must-see event. Edwards remarked: “People will have to tune in for this race and find out who is the ultimate Master. It’s going to be harder for the TV director than the commentators. The director is going to have a headache trying to work out where to look next.
“I’m particularly looking forwards to seeing Gabriele Tarquini race again – he was always an exceptional driver, I thought – but just to be able to talk about this race will be an absolute joy.”
The BTCC Masters will start straight after the final round of this year’s Green Flag BTCC at 17.40 and go out live on Motors TV – satellite channel 413 – to 14 different countries, plus French-speaking parts of Africa, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. It will also be the focus of the Speed Sunday programme on ITV1, Sunday 3 October.
