'It's an amazing opportunity': Richard Craill to call NZ Double Header
Richard Craill to make Supercars commentary debut this weekend in Taupō
Craill one of three rotating lead callers in new-look commentary line-up
Both legs of ITM New Zealand Double Header to be called by Craill
Supercars fans will hear a new voice leading the broadcast of the ITM New Zealand Double Header, with Richard Craill stepping up to the lead commentary role.
A widely respected member of the motorsport media, Craill was announced of one three lead callers to share duties through the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship, alongside Chad Neylon and Matt Naulty.
Long-time pit reporter Neylon took the reigns for the opening two rounds of the season at Sydney and Melbourne, and will be on hand in New Zealand to call support category action and resume pit duties.
This weekend will mark the culmination of a lifelong dream for Craill, who has been a fan of the sport from childhood.
"It's obviously really exciting, and as a kid and a motorsport fan growing up, you watch touring cars, and you watch the Bathurst 1000," Craill told Supercars.com at the pre-season media day in Sydney.
"You want to have an opportunity commentating on the top level of the sport, so it's an amazing opportunity for myself, but also for Chad and for Matt as well.
"The fact that the three of us get to do this together is really special, because we're all good mates. I think we all complement each other really well from a commentary point of view.
"I think we'll all just bring a different approach to it. We've each got our own style, we've each got our own way of calling the racing, but I think it'll work."
Hailing from South Australia, Craill has been a long-time caller in Australian motorsport, becoming the voice of the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour and the Bathurst 6 Hour, as well as calling Porsche Carrera Cup, Sprint Challenge, and GT World Challenge Australia among a host of other national categories.
Craill has also made international forays, calling the Repco NextGen NZ Championship and Formula Regional Oceania Trophy over summer, the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans for Radio Le Mans, and the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
Having established relationships with drivers and team personnel alike through his various roles in other categories, Craill is eager to bring the stories of the men behind the visor to life.
"The best thing is we know the people, we know the drivers, I'd like to believe we know the sport really, really well, so it's our job to help tell some of those stories," Craill added.
"Bringing out what Garth [Tander], James [Courtney], and the guys and girls in the lane can bring to it, and enhance what they're saying is important as well. They're there to do the expert stuff, and we'll do the shouty bits.
"It's really exciting, and I can't wait to get stuck into it and just see how we all go this year in a really exciting year for Supercars and the championship."
Naulty is set to step up for his first stint in the Supercars commentary box following the ITM New Zealand Double Header at both the Tyrepower Tasmania Super 440 and the betr Darwin Triple Crown.
On-track action in Taupō begins on Friday.
