Martin Haven
Encyclopedia
Martin Haven is a freelance British
motorsport
commentator
, who lives in Royal Leamington Spa. He is the Eurosport
commentator for the World Touring Car Championship
.
Martin trained as a radio and print journalist, and after doing circuit commentary he made his TV debut in the late 1980s with BSB
, with live coverage of the RAC Rally. He left a role at Autosport
to cover NASCAR
for Screensport
, just as the channel was closed down by owners Eurosport.
Martin has been Eurosport’s lead car racing commentator for the past decade and has headed up their coverage of bobsleigh
and skeleton
since 2001. He commentates for Channel 4
with their British F3 and GT coverage and has reported for NBC’s American Le Mans Series
coverage during their 5-year tenure of the coverage.
He has commentated on the World Touring Car Championship and its support races for Eurosport since its inception in 2005, originally with the late David Leslie
, and later alongside former British Touring Car Champion John Cleland
. His current WTCC colour-commentator is former BTCC and WTCC driver James Thompson
. He also covers the 24 Hours of Le Mans
each year, currently shown on Eurosport, but has also presented coverage of the event for Motors TV
. He also presents Eurosport's coverage of the annual Dakar Rally
, and has commentated on the Race of Champions
, including doing the in-stadium commentary at Wembley Stadium
. Other series Martin has covered for Eurosport include the FIA GT Championship
, Le Mans Series
, World Series by Renault
, GP2 Series
(alongside Gareth Rees
) and Porsche Supercup
. Each January Martin also presents a round-up of the Autosport International
show for Motors TV, alongside Diana Binks
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, who lives in Royal Leamington Spa. He is the Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
commentator for the World Touring Car Championship
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
.
Martin trained as a radio and print journalist, and after doing circuit commentary he made his TV debut in the late 1980s with BSB
British Satellite Broadcasting
British Satellite Broadcasting was a British television company which provided direct broadcast satellite television services to the United Kingdom...
, with live coverage of the RAC Rally. He left a role at Autosport
Autosport
Autosport is a weekly magazine covering motorsport, published in the United Kingdom every Thursday by Haymarket Consumer Media. It was first published on 25 August 1950 by Gregor Grant, immediately prior to the Silverstone International Trophy meeting of that year...
to cover NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
for Screensport
Screensport
Screensport was a pan-European sports television channel. The network was launched as a stand-alone channel in Manchester on 29th March 1984 and later acquired by the WH Smith Television Group in 1987...
, just as the channel was closed down by owners Eurosport.
Martin has been Eurosport’s lead car racing commentator for the past decade and has headed up their coverage of bobsleigh
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
and skeleton
Skeleton (sport)
Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which athletes experience forces up to 5g. It originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland as a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta Sledding...
since 2001. He commentates for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
with their British F3 and GT coverage and has reported for NBC’s American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
coverage during their 5-year tenure of the coverage.
He has commentated on the World Touring Car Championship and its support races for Eurosport since its inception in 2005, originally with the late David Leslie
David Leslie (racing driver)
David Leslie was a racing driver. He was most associated with the British Touring Car Championship, in which he was runner-up in 1999. He was particularly noted for his development skill, helping both Honda and Nissan become BTCC race winners...
, and later alongside former British Touring Car Champion John Cleland
John Cleland (racing driver)
John Cleland . is a retired Scottish auto racing driver. He raced autocross and hillclimb in the 1970s, before achieving success in British Production Car and Thundersaloon championships, before joining Vauxhall for the 1989 British Touring Car Championship...
. His current WTCC colour-commentator is former BTCC and WTCC driver James Thompson
James Thompson (racing driver)
James Thompson is a British auto racing driver and commentator for Eurosport's motorsport coverage. He has twice been champion of the British Touring Car Championship , and was third in the 2007 World Touring Car Championship.-Racing career:He started racing in the BTCC in a privately-entered...
. He also covers the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
each year, currently shown on Eurosport, but has also presented coverage of the event for Motors TV
Motors TV
Motors TV is a television channel dedicated to news, documentaries and coverage of motorsport and automobiles, and to a lesser extent motorbikes, boats, aircraft and models. It is available in many countries via satellite and cable, with audio in English, French, German and Serbian...
. He also presents Eurosport's coverage of the annual Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
, and has commentated on the Race of Champions
Race of Champions
The Race of Champions is an international motorsport event held at the end of each year, featuring some of the world's best racing and rally drivers...
, including doing the in-stadium commentary at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. Other series Martin has covered for Eurosport include the FIA GT Championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
, Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
, World Series by Renault
World Series by Renault
The World Series by Renault, formerly the World Series by Nissan from 1998 to 2004, is a motor racing series. The series consists of the flagship Formula Renault 3.5 Series , the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Eurocup Mégane Trophy...
, GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
(alongside Gareth Rees
Gareth Rees (motorsport commentator)
Gareth Rees is a Welsh motorsport commentator. He has commentated on a wide variety of series, including Champ Car, IndyCar, the World Series, Formula 3000, Euro 3000, DTM and GP2...
) and Porsche Supercup
Porsche Supercup
The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is the international motor racing series supporting the FIA Formula One World Championship organized by Porsche AG....
. Each January Martin also presents a round-up of the Autosport International
Autosport International
Autosport International is an annual 4 day event motor show catering for both automotive industry professionals and motorsport fans who enjoy following and being close the sport....
show for Motors TV, alongside Diana Binks
Diana Binks
Diana Binks is a British TV presenter, mainly specialising in motorsports programming.Born in Scotland, Binks worked as a press officer for the BAR Formula One team, before making the switch into broadcasting in 1999...
.