Channel 4 has lured veteran Murray Walker out of retirement and managed to snare Eddie Jordan, now a Top Gear presenter, to bolster its F1 lineup.
Channel 4’s coverage will be fronted by Steve Jones, the former T4 and X Factor USA presenter in his first foray into sports presenting.
He will team up with David Coulthard, who was previously part of the BBC’s team, who was announced after Channel 4 secured the free-to-air TV rights from the BBC, and Ben Edwards.
The lineup will also include racing drivers Mark Webber, Susie Wolff, Bruno Senna, nephew of the late Ayrton Senna, retired champion Alain Prost and Alex Zanardi, who returned to racing after losing both legs in a 2001 crash.
Former driver Karun Chandhok takes the role of technical analyst and ex-BBC F1 team member Lee McKenzie will be a reporter.
Channel 4 said that Jordan, who faces a heavy filming schedule as part of Chris Evans’s new Top Gear team, will reunite with Coulthard for some C4 live races.
“This is the dream team,” said Channel 4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt. “We’ve brought together the very best in screen and off screen talent to make Channel 4’s coverage unmissable.”
The return of Walker, who will be sent to some races to “interview some of the stars of F1”, is remarkable with the 92-year old last working on F1 for the BBC’s web commentary team in 2008.
He retired from live TV commentary on motorsport in September 2001, after the end of that year’s F1 championship, at the age of 77.
The broadcaster, which shares the rights with Sky Sports, has the rights to air 10 live races and extensive highlights of all 21 grand prix, starting with Melbourne on 20 March.
“I’m very proud to be a part of this exciting line up which will give F1 fans who choose to watch the most creative and innovative free-to-air coverage of the season a totally fresh perspective,” said Coulthard.
“This season promises to be the most competitive for years and viewers can look forward to extensive coverage of all the races, expert punditry, unrivalled paddock and pit access as well as exhilarating stunts and features throughout to bring the audience right into the heart of the race action.”
Travel search engine Kayak has signed up as the exclusive sponsor of Channel 4’s F1 coverage.
F1: Murray Walker and Eddie Jordan to join Steve Jones on Channel 4 team #JHedzWorlD
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