TANDER TABBED FOR SUPERCARS TV

By Bruce Williams

Date posted: 11 January 2021

Garth Tander tabbed for Supercars TV – Photo: LAT

Bathurst co-champion Garth Tander is set to join the heavily revamped Supercars TV commentary team.

EXCLUSIVE By MARK FOGARTY

As moves to reinstate popular pit lane pundit Mark Larkham continue, AUTO ACTION has learned that Tander has been in talks about a major role in the new-look race broadcasts as an expert commentator/analyst.

He will combine his new high-profile TV presence with defending his Bathurst 1000 win with Shane van Gisbergen at Triple Eight and the Australian GT championship with Audi.

While yet to be finalised, it is understood the 43-year-old Perth-born, Melbourne-based V8 legend has been offered a firm deal as a member of the commentary line-up on Fox Sports and Seven.

The Supercars race telecasts will be simulcast, with the combined coverage extending to shared commentators, presenters and reporters.

It is expected that Tander’s elevation to a full-time main game commentator/analyst will be confirmed later this month.

He is unavailable for comment because he is on holiday with his family.

Winner of four Bathurst 1000s and the 2007 Supercars crown, Tander has established himself as burgeoning broadcast talent since his enforced retirement from full-time Supercars competition at the beginning of 2019.

Dropped by GRM to accommodate Boost Mobile-backed Richie Stanaway, he was quickly snapped up by Red Bull Holden Racing Team to partner van Gisbergen in the endurance races.

GT also starred as a pundit on Ten Network’s ‘RPM’ show, revealing his sharp wit and forthright analysis.

Although a victim of Channel 10 cutbacks last year, he excelled as a guest commentator during the Supercars E-series and Super2 races on Fox Sports.

AA has been campaigning for Tander to join the main Supercars TV commentary team because he is an astute observer with credibility and candour. He also explains racing’s complexities simply without alienating knowledgeable fans.

Amid the fan furore over Mark Larkham’s sacking as part of a wholesale replacement of ‘techy’ pit lane reporters, Supercars top management have recognised Tander combines authority with broad appeal.

Entertaining and frank, GT is seen by tech-averse senior Supercars executives as an acceptable compromise despite his embedded expertise.

It is still unclear whether he will join Neil Crompton and Mark Skaife in the race commentary booth or have a wider analysis role.

How Tander would fit in with Fox Sports favourite Craig Lowndes, who is pushing to return to the hosting desk as an expert analyst, is also a key question.

While Crompton is likely to renew as ‘The Voice Of V8s’, the rest of the commentary and presenting line-up is set to rotate throughout the season.

Fox Sports’ Jessica Yates is expected to be the permanent broadcast anchor, with Seven’s Mark Beretta, Skaife, Tander and probably Lowndes sharing co-hosting duties throughout the season.

Tander could also alternate with Skaife as a commentator/analyst alongside Crompton as there is resistance to a three-headed race-calling team.

GT will not be part of Seven Network’s coverage of ARG events, despite being linked with a possible MPC Audi TCR drive.

AA understands he will rejoin MPC’s Australian GT assault in an Audi R8 LMS as his main effort to be race-fit for the Bathurst 1000, which again will be the only two-driver Supercars race.

Regular TCR appearances in an MPC Audi RS3 LMS, if any, are not on Tander’s agenda.

He will concentrate on his Supercars TV duties, augmented by limited racing to aid his preparation for Bathurst.

Triple Eight chief Roland Dane is keen for Tander to do as much racing as possible before renewing his top-ranked partnership with SVG.

GT has an enviable record at Mount Panorama, co-winning the 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour in addition to his 2000/09/11/20 successes in the 1000. He has also finished on the podium a further three times.

He won the ’07 Supercars title with HSV Dealer Team in a down-to-the-wire battle with Jamie Whincup

Seven ‘Sunrise’ personality/sports presenter Beretta, a motorsport fan, is set to be a regular in the pit lane when not co-hosting, joined by Andrew Jones and, occasionally, Paul Morris.

Former children’s TV presenter Charli Robinson had been targeted for a general reporting role, but there are suggestions adverse fan reaction may have triggered a rethink on her involvement.

On-course/support race callers Chad Neylon and Matt Naulty are also understood to be in the main commentary mix.

Efforts to reinstate Larko have gone nowhere despite a back-flip by Supercars.

Supercars supremo Sean Seamer attempted to contact him before Christmas, but – sorely aggrieved by being dropped so callously – he is remaining incommunicado.

All non-Fox Sports and Seven personalities are being offered one-year deals, with their positions to be reviewed at the end of the season.

Supercars’ new $200 million broadcast deal is for five years, with Seven returning as the free TV partner.

Six of 2021’s scheduled 12 events, including the Bathurst 1000, will be shown live by Seven, with the rest aired in delayed highlights packages.

For more of the latest Supercars news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.

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TANDER TABBED FOR SUPERCARS TV

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