Mark Skaife

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Mark Skaife
Mark Skaife.jpg
Skaife at the Australian GP in 2006
Nationality Australian
Born (1967-04-03) 3 April 1967 (age 57)
Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
V8 Supercar Record
Series championships 5
Races 220
Race wins 90
Podium finishes 87
Pole positions 41
2011 Championship position 29th (532 pts)

Mark Stephen Skaife OAM (born 3 April 1967 in Gosford, New South Wales) is an Australian motor racing driver. Skaife is a five time champion of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, including its predecessor, the Australian Touring Car Championship. He is also a six-time winner of the Bathurst 1000. On 29 October 2008, he announced his retirement from full-time touring car racing.[1] Since retiring from driving, Skaife has worked as a commentator and presenter for the series for both the Seven Network and Fox Sports Australia.

Biography

Skaife was born in Gosford, New South Wales, the son of touring car racer, Russell Skaife. Skaife is married to wife Toni with three children: Mitch, Mia and Tilly.[2] He attended Wyong High School and is a known supporter of National Rugby League club Manly-Warringah.

In 2004, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, for services to motor racing and charity.[3] In 2006, Skaife set a Guinness World Record with the fastest speed of 277.16 km/h (172.21 mp/h) for a production ute, driving a HSV Maloo at the Woomera Prohibited Area.[4]

Racing career

Early years

Skaife began racing karts in the 1980s in his native New South Wales, before moving to Melbourne to complete his apprenticeship under Fred Gibson.[5] His first car race was at Amaroo Park in 1984, at the wheel of a Holden Torana XU-1 sports sedan, which was partly built by his father, Russell. In 1985 Skaife joined the NSW Ford Laser Series, finishing second in the series.[6] Skaife again finished runner up in the 1986 NSW Laser Series and winning the Victorian Series of the same year. Skaife was due to compete in his maiden race at Bathurst in 1986, however his co-driver and team owner, Peter Williamson, crashed the team's Toyota Celica Supra MA61 they were set to share during practice and the entry was withdrawn.[7]

In 1987 Skaife won the Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship in a Gibson Motor Sport prepared Nissan Gazelle,[citation needed] before finishing 19th on Bathurst 1000 debut in same car (co-driven by Grant Jarret).[8]

During 1988 Skaife appeared at selected touring car events in Gibson’s factory Nissan squad driving the Group A Nissan Skyline. He failed to finish both the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 alongside George Fury.[9]

In 1989 Skaife made four ATCC starts as third driver in the Gibson Nissan team, starring in the wet at Winton on the way to fifth place. He paired with Jim Richards for endurance races, winning Sandown 500 before taking his first Bathurst 1000 podium in the Group A Nissan Skyline HR31 with third place.[10]

Between 1991-1993 Skaife won 3 consecutive Australian Drivers Championships (ADC), earning 3 CAMS Gold Stars. In 1991& 1992 he was driving the Spa 003, switching to the Lola T91/50 for 1993 each run by Gibson Motor Sport.[11]

Australian Touring Car Championship ATCC (1990 - 2001)

1990 – Graduates to full-time drive with Nissan team following retirement of Fury. Finishes 14th in ATCC having switched from HR31 to R32 GT-R model Skyline midseason. Finishes 18th at Bathurst alongside Richards having suffered mechanical problems. Sustains back injury after rolling GT-R in Australian Grand Prix support race.[12]

1991 – Wins three ATCC rounds, including his maiden victory at Round 3 at Wanneroo, WA.[13] Skaife scores more points than any other driver during the season, but loses title to Jim Richards under drop-worst-round rules. Takes dominant Bathurst 1000 win (with Richards) in record total time, in the Nissan GT-R R32, which was the first Japanese car to win Bathurst. Also records a Bathurst DNF after driving the team’s second car late in the race under cross-entering rules.

1992 – Wins four ATCC rounds on his way to the championship. Takes second Bathurst 1000 win with the GT-R R32 as the race was red flagged due to wet conditions.[14]

1993 – Stays with Gibson team during switch from Nissan GT-R R32 to Holden Commodore VP under new Group A rules. Finishes sixth in ATCC after failing to win a round. Takes second at Bathurst alongside Richards following a race-long duel with eventual winners Larry Perkins and Gregg Hansford. Competes in FIA Touring Car World Cup at Monza with Nissan Castrol Racing, finishing 35th.

1994 – Wins four rounds (including first three in succession) on his way to a second ATCC title. Finishes second (with Richards) in first Sandown 500 start in five years. Crashes out early in wet conditions at Bathurst.

1995 – Misses opening ATCC round after enormous pre-season testing crash at Eastern Creek.[15] Eventually finishes sixth in points standings with one round win driving the Holden Commodore VR. Leads Bathurst 1000 comfortably before mechanical trouble strikes nearing half distance.

1996 – Gibson team scales down to one car for ATCC following end of tobacco advertising.[16] Finishes ninth in points with best round result of third. Records 13th in Sandown 500 (with Gary Waldon and Mark Noske) and seventh at Bathurst (with John Cleland).

1997 – Competes in just five of 10 ATCC rounds in the Holden Commodore VS as funding issues continue at Gibson team. Ends season 13th after best round result of third. Drives Lister Storm alongside Julian Bailey and Tommy Erdos in Le Mans 24 Hours, but fails to finish following mechanical issues. Makes first appearance with Mobil Holden Racing Team driving alongside Peter Brock in Sandown 500, scoring pole and finishing 12th. Again on pole at Bathurst but retires from the race while leading.

1998 – First full season with HRT, signed to replace Peter Brock, finishing third in ATCC without winning a round. Teams with Craig Lowndes in new VT model Commodore at Sandown to finish second. Pair show dominant form at Bathurst but finish just sixth after tyre issues.

1999 – Wins six rounds of Shell Championship Series (the most of any driver) but again finishes third in points in the Holden Commodore VT. Teams with Paul Morris for endurance races, recording 22nd in new Queensland 500 event (after being delayed by accident damage) and third at Bathurst.

2000 – Wins four rounds, including Clipsal 500 Adelaide and Queensland 500, on way to Shell Championship Series title. Seals championship with sixth place alongside Craig Lowndes in Bathurst finale.

2001 – Takes four round wins, including the Bathurst 1000 alongside Tony Longhurst, to claim Shell Championship Series title. Secures crown at penultimate event in Pukekohe – the first championship round to be held outside of Australia, driving the Holden Commodore VX.[17]

V8 Supercars Championship Series (2002 - 2008)

2002 – Enjoys dominant V8 Supercars Championship Series victory in the Holden Commodore VX, having won seven of the 13 rounds, including the first five in succession. Season highlights also include a fourth triumph in the Bathurst 1000,[18] partnered by former team-mate Jim Richards, and a second Clipsal 500 trophy.

2003 – Wins Clipsal 500 and Sandown 500 (alongside Todd Kelly) on his way to third in the championship in the Holden Commodore VY. Announced as new owner of Holden Racing Team mid-season following earlier collapse of founding owner Tom Walkinshaw Racing.[19] Finishes eighth at Bathurst alongside Todd Kelly after late-race mechanical black flag for loose bodywork while running second. At the final race of the season at Eastern Creek Skaife and Russell Ingall were involved in a race incident in which both drivers were later fined by race officials. Both drivers also had points deducted, which left Skaife finishing the year in sixth place in the championship.[20]

2004 – Fails to win a championship round for the first time in six years. Finishes season 12th in points with a best round result of second at Oran Park. Out of contention early at Bathurst with mechanical trouble (teamed with Todd Kelly).

2005 – Wins fifth Bathurst 1000 crown driving the Holden Commodore VZ, this time teamed with Todd Kelly.[21] Records fifth place in V8 Supercars Championship Series.

2006 – Finishes 16th in V8 Supercars Championship Series with one round win. Crashes out of Bathurst 1000 on opening lap after enduring mechanical issues while starting from pole position (teamed with Garth Tander).[22]

2007 – Records eighth in V8 Supercars Championship Series with one round win, driving the Holden Commodore VE – finishing behind team-mate Kelly in the standings for the fourth consecutive year. Misses Sandown 500 due to appendix surgery before crashing out of Bathurst 1000 in closing stages. Transfers partial ownership of HRT back to Tom Walkinshaw. Skaife reached 200 championship round starts in the final event of 2007.[23]

2008 – Joined at HRT by the then reigning champion Garth Tander. Wins L&H 500 at Phillip Island alongside Garth Tander. Finishes 12th in Bathurst 1000 after mid-race crash. Confirms 2008 will be final season as full-time driver following Gold Coast event.[24] Ends season 14th in points with a 27th place round result in Oran Park finale.[25] Announces sale of remainder of HRT to Walkinshaw.[26]

V8 Supercars Championship Series - Endurance Races (2009 - 2011)

Following Skaife's retirement from full-time driving, he announced that he would compete in the V8 Supercars endurance races for 2009,[27] an arrangement that he continued into 2010 and 2011.[28] This was a highly successful venture which gave Skaife further wins at Philip Island in 2010 & 2011 and his final Bathurst victory in 2010.

2009 – Skaife teams with Greg Murphy at Tasman Motorsport for endurance races, finishing 11th in Phillip Island 500 and fourth in Bathurst 1000.

2010 – Skaife joins TeamVodafone to win Phillip Island 500[29] and Bathurst 1000 alongside Craig Lowndes.[30]

2011 – Skaife continues as an endurance-only driver in V8 Supercars Championship for third consecutive year. Teams with Lowndes to score second consecutive Phillip Island 500 victory[31] before placing second in Bathurst 1000. Skaife announced on 17 October 2011, that he will retire as an endurance racer in order to take up the role as Chairman of the newly formed V8 Supercars Commission.[32]

Mark Skaife ends his driving career with 482 race starts, 90 race wins, 42 event wins, 41 pole positions and 5 drivers championships.

Media career

Skaife joined the Seven Network following his full-time retirement. He became a co-commentator for the V8 Supercars series alongside Neil Crompton and Matthew White, continuing in this position until Seven lost the rights after the 2014 season. In 2015, with the broadcast rights moving to a shared deal between Fox Sports and Network Ten, Skaife joined Fox Sports. He took on a presenter role, without commentating, and also co-hosted their V8 Supercars television series Inside Supercars.[33]

Career results

Season Series Position Car Team
1985 New South Wales Laser Series 2nd Ford Laser Tyretown Racing
1986 New South Wales Laser Series 2nd Ford Laser Tyretown Racing
1986 Victorian Laser Series 1st Ford Laser Tyretown Racing
1987 Australian Touring Car Championship 17th Nissan Gazelle Peter Jackson Nissan Racing
1987 Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship 1st Nissan Gazelle Peter Jackson Nissan Racing
1989 Australian Touring Car Championship 9th Skyline HR31 GTS-R Nissan Motorsport Australia
1990 Australian Touring Car Championship 14th Skyline HR31 GTS-R
Nissan Skyline BNR32 GT-R		 Nissan Motorsport Australia
1990 Australian Drivers' Championship 3rd Spa FB001 Holden Skaife Racing P/L
1991 Australian Touring Car Championship 2nd Nissan Skyline BNR32 GT-R Nissan Motorsport Australia
1991 Australian Drivers' Championship 1st Spa FB003 Holden Gibson Motor Sport
1992 Australian Touring Car Championship 1st Nissan Skyline BNR32 GT-R Winfield Team Nissan
1992 Australian Drivers' Championship 1st Spa FB003 Holden Winfield Racing
1992 FIA Formula 3000 International Championship 29th Reynard 92D Mugen Honda 3001 International
1993 Australian Touring Car Championship 6th Holden VP Commodore Winfield Racing
1993 Australian Drivers' Championship 1st Lola T91/50 Holden Winfield Racing
1993 Touring Car World Cup 35th Nissan Primera eGT Nissan Castrol Racing
1994 Australian Touring Car Championship 1st Holden VP Commodore Winfield Racing
1995 Australian Touring Car Championship 6th Holden VR Commodore Winfield Racing
1995 Australian Drivers' Championship 7th Lola T93/50 Holden Gibson Motor Sport
1996 Australian Touring Car Championship 9th Holden VR Commodore Gibson Motor Sport
1997 Australian Touring Car Championship 13th Holden VS Commodore Gibson Motor Sport
1998 Australian Touring Car Championship 3rd Holden VS Commodore Holden Racing Team
1999 Shell Championship Series 3rd Holden VT Commodore Holden Racing Team
2000 Shell Championship Series 1st Holden VT Commodore Holden Racing Team
2001 Shell Championship Series 1st Holden VX Commodore Holden Racing Team
2002 V8Supercar Championship Series 1st Holden VX Commodore Holden Racing Team
2003 V8Supercar Championship Series 3rd Holden VY Commodore Holden Racing Team
2004 V8Supercar Championship Series 12th Holden VY Commodore Holden Racing Team
2005 V8Supercar Championship Series 5th Holden VZ Commodore Holden Racing Team
2006 V8Supercar Championship Series 16th Holden VZ Commodore Holden Racing Team
2007 V8Supercar Championship Series 8th[34] Holden VE Commodore Holden Racing Team
2008 V8Supercar Championship Series 14th Holden VE Commodore Holden Racing Team
2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series 31st Holden VE Commodore Tasman Motorsport
2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series 33rd Holden VE Commodore Triple Eight Race Engineering
2011 International V8 Supercars Championship 29th Holden VE Commodore Triple Eight Race Engineering
2012 Australian Carrera Cup Championship 21st Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Porsche Cars Australia

Bathurst 1000 wins

Year Pos Class No Team Co-Drivers Chassis Laps
Engine
Group A
1991 1 1 1 Australia Nissan Motorsport Australia Australia Jim Richards Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R 161
Nissan 2.6 L S6 Twin-turbo
1992 1 A 1 Australia Winfield Team Nissan Australia Jim Richards Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R 143
Nissan 2.6 L S6 Twin-turbo
V8 Supercars
2001 1 1 Australia Holden Racing Team Australia Tony Longhurst Holden VX Commodore 161
Holden 5.0 L V8
2002 1 1 Australia Holden Racing Team Australia Jim Richards Holden VX Commodore 161
Holden 5.0 L V8
2005 1 2 Australia Holden Racing Team Australia Todd Kelly Holden VZ Commodore 161
Holden 5.0 L V8
2010 1 888 Australia Team Vodafone Australia Craig Lowndes Holden VE Commodore 161
Holden 5.0 L V8

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points
1987 Peter Jackson Nissan Racing Nissan Gazelle MNZ JAR DIJ NUR SPA
 BNO SIL BAT
19		 CLD
 WEL
 FJI NC 0

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DC Points
1992 3001 International SIL
 PAU
 CAT
 PER
 HOC
 NÜR
 SPA
 ALB
 NOG
16		 MAG
RET		 NC 0

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Tyre Laps
Engine
1997 40
DNF		 GT1 46 United Kingdom Newcastle United Lister United Kingdom Julian Bailey
Brazil Thomas Erdos		 Lister Storm GTL D 77
Jaguar 7.0L V12

References

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  34. ↑ [1]
  • "Farewell Skaifey", 2008 NRMA Motoring & Services Gran Finale official race programme

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by Winner of the Australian Drivers' Championship
1991, 1992 and 1993		 Succeeded by
Paul Stokell
Preceded by Winner of the Bathurst 1000
1991 and 1992
(with Jim Richards)		 Succeeded by
Larry Perkins
Gregg Hansford
Preceded by Winner of the Australian Touring Car Championship
1992		 Succeeded by
Glenn Seton
Preceded by Winner of the Australian Touring Car Championship
1994		 Succeeded by
John Bowe
Preceded by Winner of the V8Supercar Championship Series
2000, 2001 and 2002		 Succeeded by
Marcos Ambrose
Preceded by Winner of the Bathurst 1000
2001 and 2002
(with Tony Longhurst and Jim Richards)		 Succeeded by
Greg Murphy
Rick Kelly
Preceded by Winner of the Bathurst 1000
2005
(with Todd Kelly)		 Succeeded by
Craig Lowndes
Jamie Whincup
Preceded by Winner of the Bathurst 1000
2010
(with Craig Lowndes)		 Succeeded by
Garth Tander
Nick Percat
Records
Preceded by
Peter Brock
37 wins
(1973 – 2004)
 Most ATCC round wins
42
(1987 – 2011),
38th win at the 2007 Eastern Creek round of the V8 Supercar Championship
 Succeeded by
Craig Lowndes
43 wins
(1996 – 2013)


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