Toby Moody is ITV's new BTCC commentator
Toby Moody, best known for Eurosport's MotoGP commentary, has been confirmed as ITV Sport's new Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race commentator.
Moody replaces Ben Edwards who has moved to the BBC's Formula 1 team.
Moody will join former BTCC title-winner and expert pundit Tim Harvey in the commentary box for all ten events this season (three BTCC rounds will clash with MotoGP this year - Jerez, Brno and Sepang) which will be broadcast live by ITV4.
Although he has been the lead commentator for Eurosport's coverage of MotoGP for the past 15 years, Moody has followed the BTCC for more than two decades. He is also a keen competitor in hill climbing and until recently held a class record on the world-famous Shelsley Walsh course.
The 39-year-old from Worcester said: "I've got big boots to fill - Ben was a class act - but when the opportunity came up I had to go for it. The chance to commentate on a major sport with the BTCC's following and for ITV Sport was too good to miss and I'm over the moon to have been offered the job.
"I loved watching the Ford RS500s in the late Eighties and one of my first work experiences was actually with Prodrive when they ran the factory BMW M3s in the BTCC in 1990. I also had an involvement with the Nissan team in 1993. My father, though, was the commentator at Shelsley and I fancied a go - the next thing I'd been handed the microphone and had never been so nervous in my life!
"Then along came the bike work for Eurosport in 1996 - I've loved every minute of it and I'll still fit in every MotoGP round that doesn't clash with the BTCC this year. It's going to be a hectic but very enjoyable schedule...
"The BTCC really fascinates me. The action for the public is out of this world, plus the drivers are not wrapped up in cotton wool - they are free to speak their mind and that leads to some really interesting characters, incidents and storylines. It makes the BTCC an addictive soap opera for viewers and it's going to be a real honour conveying what is happening to the huge numbers of people tuning in."
Tony Pastor, head of production for ITV Sport, believes Moody will be a 'terrific' replacement for Edwards.
"We were really sorry to see Ben Edwards leave our team but in Toby we feel we have a terrific replacement," he said. "We believe that Toby has the passion and knowledge to take the viewers inside the sport and at the same time give them a real sense of just how exciting these races are. We're delighted to welcome him on board and I expect him to become a great asset to our sports commentating team."
Harvey added: "I'm also delighted to be working with Toby. He's a motor racing fan through and through and will bring enthusiasm, professionalism and humour to the commentary box."
Moody commentates alongside Julian Ryder and technical expert Neil Spalding for Eurosport.
