Tony Jardine
Encyclopedia
Tony Jardine is a motorsport pundit and Sky Sports presenter who has a varied background in motorsport.
Jardine began career as a teacher in the United States
, United Kingdom
and the Middle East
, where he was Head of Art at the New English School in Kuwait
. It was whilst in Kuwait that he first raced cars, rally driving for the local Datsun
importers in his spare time. He was comparatively successful, finishing eighth on the Kuwait International Rally in 1975.
Jardine then moved into the Formula One
world, getting a job working for Goodyear's
Grand Prix Team, driving trucks and fitting tyres at races. His next role was with the Brabham F1 team, where he worked with Niki Lauda
and designer Gordon Murray
. After Brabham came he moved to McLaren in , where Jardine was an Assistant Team Manager when the team drivers were Alain Prost
and John Watson
.
Jardine then left F1 to work for an American promotions company, but within eighteen months he was back in F1 working for Lotus
; colleagues here included Nigel Mansell
, Elio de Angelis
and Ayrton Senna
.
In 1985 he formed his own sports PR company, Jardine Communications Ltd, in which future ITV co-presenter Louise Goodman
worked.
In terms of his own racing career Tony has competed in four Arctic Rallies and ten Network Q Rally GBs, finishing second in class in 2001 and winning the journalists' award three times.
Tony started working for the BBC in the 1980s, including standing in for Murray Walker
, as main commentator, at the 1985 German Grand Prix
. After the death of James Hunt
in 1993, he became the BBC's full time pitlane reporter. When the Formula 1 coverage switched to ITV
in 1997, he became one of their main pundits. He stayed there until 2005. He also does a considerable amount of after-dinner speaking. In 2007, Jardine's wife Jeanette was badly injured in a car crash, in which she was an innocent bystander.
Jardine began career as a teacher in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, where he was Head of Art at the New English School in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
. It was whilst in Kuwait that he first raced cars, rally driving for the local Datsun
Datsun
Datsun was an automobile marque. The name was created in 1931 by the DAT Motorcar Co. for a new car model, spelling it as "Datson" to indicate its smaller size when compared to the existing, larger DAT car. Later, in 1933 after Nissan Motor Co., Ltd...
importers in his spare time. He was comparatively successful, finishing eighth on the Kuwait International Rally in 1975.
Jardine then moved into the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
world, getting a job working for Goodyear's
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
Grand Prix Team, driving trucks and fitting tyres at races. His next role was with the Brabham F1 team, where he worked with Niki Lauda
Niki Lauda
Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda is an Austrian former Formula One racing driver and three-time F1 World Champion. More recently an aviation entrepreneur, he has founded and run two airlines and was manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team for two years.- Early years in racing :Born in Vienna,...
and designer Gordon Murray
Gordon Murray
Prof. Gordon Murray , is a renowned designer of Formula One race cars and the McLaren F1 road car.-Early life:...
. After Brabham came he moved to McLaren in , where Jardine was an Assistant Team Manager when the team drivers were Alain Prost
Alain Prost
Alain Marie Pascal Prost, OBE, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur is a French racing driver. A four-time Formula One Drivers' Champion, Prost has won more titles than any driver except for Juan Manuel Fangio , and Michael Schumacher . From 1987 until 2001 Prost held the record for most Grand Prix...
and John Watson
John Watson (racing driver)
John Marshall "Wattie" Watson MBE is a British former racing driver from Northern Ireland. He competed in Formula One, winning five Grands Prix and also in the World Sportscar Championship...
.
Jardine then left F1 to work for an American promotions company, but within eighteen months he was back in F1 working for Lotus
Team Lotus
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
; colleagues here included Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
, Elio de Angelis
Elio de Angelis
Elio de Angelis was an Italian racing driver who participated in Formula One between and , racing for the Shadow, Lotus and Brabham teams. He was killed during testing at the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet in 1986...
and Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva was a Brazilian racing driver. A three-time Formula One world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time...
.
In 1985 he formed his own sports PR company, Jardine Communications Ltd, in which future ITV co-presenter Louise Goodman
Louise Goodman
Louise Goodman is a British commentator and reporter from Alresford who worked on ITV's Formula One coverage until it ceased at the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix...
worked.
In terms of his own racing career Tony has competed in four Arctic Rallies and ten Network Q Rally GBs, finishing second in class in 2001 and winning the journalists' award three times.
Tony started working for the BBC in the 1980s, including standing in for Murray Walker
Murray Walker
Graeme Murray Walker, OBE is a former Formula One motorsport commentator...
, as main commentator, at the 1985 German Grand Prix
1985 German Grand Prix
The 1985 German Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Nürburgring on August 4, 1985. It was the ninth round of the 1985 Formula One season....
. After the death of James Hunt
James Hunt
James Simon Wallis Hunt was a British racing driver from England who won the Formula One World Championship in . Hunt's often action packed exploits on track earned him the nickname "Hunt the Shunt." After retiring from driving, Hunt became a media commentator and businessman...
in 1993, he became the BBC's full time pitlane reporter. When the Formula 1 coverage switched to ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in 1997, he became one of their main pundits. He stayed there until 2005. He also does a considerable amount of after-dinner speaking. In 2007, Jardine's wife Jeanette was badly injured in a car crash, in which she was an innocent bystander.