Richard Craill has been appointed as the permanent play-by-play commentator for the Repco Supercars Championship, becoming the new voice of Supercars. This appointment follows his extensive experience in Australasian motorsport commentary.
Craill will officially begin his new role at the upcoming NTI Townsville 500. He will be joined in the commentary booth by six-time Bathurst 1000 winner Garth Tander, who will serve as the colour analyst for all Supercars races. The broadcast plans also include occasional guest commentary appearances from former Supercars champions such as James Courtney and Mark Winterbottom.
Craill expressed his sentiments on the new role, stating that such an opportunity is something one works towards throughout an entire career and is not to be taken for granted. He noted that his motorsport heroes included not only the drivers he followed but also the iconic broadcasters who shared their stories, inspiring his own career path. Craill aims to honour those who came before him, the television team that has supported him, and the sport itself.
The commentator, who hails from the Barossa Valley, is a familiar voice to many race fans. His commentary work spans various top-tier motorsport events across the continent, including the Australian Grand Prix on Network Ten, the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, Shannons Speedseries, and New Zealand’s Repco NextGen Championship.
Craill has been a part of Supercars broadcasts for many years, contributing to support race commentary. He previously took on the lead play-by-play duties for Supercars at the ITM New Zealand Double Header in Taupō and Christchurch earlier in the year.
He highlighted the current state of Supercars racing, describing it as an incredible time to step into the commentary role due to the high level of competition and the depth of talent. Craill shared his passion for the racing, the contests, and particularly the stories that the sport generates, noting the abundance of unfolding narratives this season. He added that the unpredictability of race winners each weekend is beneficial for those at the track and for viewers at home.
Commentary team adjustments
Chad Neylon and Matt Naulty, who have shared Supercars play-by-play duties during the 2026 season up to this point, will continue to be prominent figures in Supercars broadcasts. Neylon is set to take on an enhanced on-screen role, while both he and Naulty will continue their involvement in presenting Supercars sessions and support races.
Neylon shared his reaction to the announcement, acknowledging that while he was disappointed not to secure the full-time play-by-play position, he fully supports the decision. He described Craill as a great person and the best choice for the role, encouraging everyone to support him. Neylon noted the shared journey he, Craill, and Naulty have experienced, working across the country in motorsport commentary.
Despite his disappointment, Neylon expressed gratitude for being involved in the sport he loves, highlighting the opportunity to travel and watch car racing with friends as part of his profession. He also mentioned that he looks forward to taking on more responsibilities within the broadcast, including grid and paddock walks. Neylon is also keen to explore opportunities in other sports he is passionate about and to expand his media training work.
Upcoming event coverage
The NTI Townsville 500 will feature three days of racing, marking North Queensland’s largest annual sporting event. Live coverage from the streets of Townsville will be available on Fox Sports, accessible via Kayo SPORTS. Additionally, free-to-air coverage will be provided on Seven and 7plus.
The final two days of the NTI Townsville 500 will be broadcast live on the Seven Network, with the Friday component exclusively available on Fox/Kayo.
The event is scheduled to take place from July 10-12.
Source: supercars.com
