CAMPEONATO MUNDO DE RALICROSS 2021 - EQUIPA APRESENTA-SE

Sexta, 09 Julho 2021 10:58 | Actualizado em Quarta, 24 Abril 2024 05:24

Super Six: All-star presenting line-up revealed for RX+

• Lead commentators Martin Haven and Nick Fellows boast more than six decades’ combined experience

• Expert commentator Hal Ridge brings the benefit of his knowledge of exciting dual-surface discipline

• Familiar faces Neil Cole, Molly Pettit and Ben Constanduros to share studio and paddock reporting roles

 Hot on the heels of the introduction of RX+ – the all-new, all-encompassing broadcast platform that is a genuine game-changer in the discipline – the FIA World Rallycross Championship is excited to confirm the all-star presenting team that will tell the story of the season to fans throughout 2021.

In addition to showing every single race live, RX+ will take viewers behind-the-scenes and immerse them right in the heart of the action in a way that has never previously been done in rallycross, led by a six-strong line-up of presenting talent drawn from across the sporting spectrum.

Martin Haven and Nick Fellows will share lead commentary duties over the seven events, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the role.

Haven is well-known in motorsport circles, with a career spanning more than three decades in the industry. He has worked for high-profile television and radio broadcasters including Eurosport, Channel 4 and NBC, and is no stranger to the explosive world of rallycross, having previously been the voice of the British Rallycross Championship and covered FIA Euro RX over the years.

Fellows turned his hand to commentary and reporting with Eurosport and Sky Sports after a successful stint as an international Alpine ski racer was halted by injury – having represented Great Britain from 1982 to 1989. Specialising in sports, lifestyle and entertainment, he has covered the Olympic Games as well as World Cup Skiing, the Red Bull Air Race, boxing and beach volleyball.

Haven and Fellows will be complemented across the course of the season by Hal Ridge, whose experience of rallycross began behind the steering wheel in 2005. He has competed internationally and outperformed six-time British Champion, Julian Godfrey, on his Supercar debut last December. He has also acted as a mechanic, spotter and photographer but is best-known for his writing as a rallycross specialist and in recent years, has successfully transferred that knowledge into the commentary box.

Haven, Fellows and Ridge will be accompanied by a three-strong, alternating team of studio hosts and paddock reporters, all of whom are well-versed in the art of sniffing out stories, eliciting exclusive interviews and really delving into the detail both on and off-track.

Neil Cole has been the live reporter for World RX since its inception back in 2014. An award-winning actor with a thirst for adventure and adrenaline sports, he has presented for Sony Pictures Television, National Geographic and Eurosport and for an array of high-profile international series and events, including the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), FIFA World Cup and Le Mans 24 Hours.

Molly Pettit is similarly a familiar face. A former circuit racing driver in her native Scandinavia, she has carved out a burgeoning media career and since 2016, has been a key member of the official WRC broadcast team. Simultaneously establishing herself in the rallycross world, she reported live for World RX in 2014 and 2015 and has demonstrated her versatility as a studio host, commentator and paddock reporter for RallyX Nordic.

Ben Constanduros is another well-known name in the motorsport sphere, with experience in commentary, voiceover and hosting roles from the Dakar Rally to World Touring Cars and Formula 1. He recently took up residence at WRC stage ends, making him an expert at extracting drivers’ thoughts immediately after the heat of battle. His naturally inquisitive nature will ensure no stone is left unturned.

But enough of us talking about them. They are, after all, the pros when it comes to talking. So here’s what they have to say, in their own words…

Martin Haven, Lead Commentator, said:

“My first car led me directly into motorsport, as the guys who helped me to fix it competed in club rallies. Before long, I was servicing or spectating on events and heading to racetracks on most of my free weekends, and I started talking about racing in 1988.

“More than 30 years on, commentary remains my overwhelming passion and whether it’s in front of the camera or behind the microphone, my overriding priority is to try and convey my love of the sport and draw viewers into the highly competitive but friendly world that I am privileged to experience. My high-octane style perfectly suits the lightning-fast, all-action combat of rallycross and I can’t wait to immerse myself in World RX. It should be quite the ride!”

Nick Fellows, Lead Commentator, said:

“After 31 years of commentary, 15 Summer and Winter Olympic Games and 12 years covering ‘motorsport in the sky’, it is a real honour and fantastic challenge to join the World RX commentary team this season. The future of World Rallycross is clearly very bright, and I look forward to developing with the sport on a long and exciting journey.”

Hal Ridge, Expert Commentator, said:

“I simply love rallycross, from the spectacle and drama of the amazing cars and drivers on-track to the atmosphere and personalities in the paddock. As a discipline, rallycross has such a rich history, which is something I’m hugely passionate about, but of course I’m excited about the future too.

“Making live rallycross television is immensely rewarding, and I’m very much looking forward to working as part of the broadcast team to tell the story and give an insight from behind-the-scenes at each World RX event this year. Being in a rallycross paddock feels like my second home and after a very long break for everyone, I can’t wait for the 2021 season to get underway later this month.”

Neil Cole, Paddock Reporter & Studio Host, said:

“The World RX paddock feels very much like my natural habitat. Having worked there since 2014, I feel a connection with the teams and drivers, so it is a huge pleasure to sustain that as the sport enters a new era. My lifelong love of off-road racing and extreme sports means that rallycross is my happy place – the adrenaline I feel as I open the car door at the end of a race, live on TV, to get that pumped-up response from the driver is a massive buzz.”

Molly Pettit, Paddock Reporter & Studio Host, said:

“World RX marked my step onto the international motorsport scene back in 2014 and also my first taste of a global TV broadcast. This intense, passionate and crazy environment had me hooked from day one, and my life has been dedicated to the world of rallying and rallycross ever since. I am extremely excited to be part of the World RX broadcast team, and I can’t wait to see how the season unfolds at all of these epic locations. Let’s go!”

Ben Constanduros, Paddock Reporter & Studio Host, said:

“World RX has been a championship I have enjoyed watching over the last few years, and the forthcoming innovations in electric technology particularly excite me. I love the technicalities and skill that World RX requires of the drivers, and the series’ fast-paced nature is ideally matched to my energetic commentary delivery. I hope to portray my genuine enthusiasm to the viewer and can’t wait to work with Rallycross Promoter as we endeavour to present this championship like never before...”

The Full Season RX+ Pass is currently on sale for the special launch price of €29,99, representing a 40% discount on the regular price of €49,99 and offering access until the end of the year. The Event Pass for World RX of Catalunya – which will kick off the 2021 action on 23/24 July – is currently available for €4,79 (using promo code RXPLUS40), again representing a 40% saving on the regular price of €7,99.

For more information or to subscribe, please visit www.fiaworldrallycross.com

Further coverage of the 2021 World RX campaign will be announced in due course.

About Rallycross Promoter GmbH

Rallycross Promoter GmbH, a joint company of Red Bull GmbH and KW25 Beteiligungs GmbH, is responsible for all commercial aspects of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, including TV production and the marketing of global media and sponsorship rights. The Promoter also has responsibility to increase the field of participants and to propose the venues that form the calendars in the FIA World Rallycross Championship and supporting series.