COX 'BACK ON THE BOX' FOR BTCC MASTERS
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.
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