grassshoppah
25th October 2000, 10:08 AM
Murray Walker has reassured race fans that he plans to be back in the ITV commentary box next season.
Murray is renowned as the voice of motor racing and has been commentating on the sport for 50 years. While many of his contemporaries in other sports have retired, Murray is still going strong and has no intention of calling it a day just yet.
He told ITV-F1: “I would like to carry on. I have always said that I wanted to go on for as long as I feel ahead of the game and have the enthusiasm."
He added: “I would stop if people were saying ‘the old fool should jack it in’ but I get a lot of people coming up to me and saying very nice things.”
Murray is glad to have a chance to put his feet up after travelling to the US, Japan and Malaysia. But he said he never forgets how fortunate he is to do what he does.
He said: “I am a very lucky man. It was my hobby and I am fortunate enough to work on my hobby. Anyone would want to do that.
“I get tired like anyone. Everyone in Formula 1 is tired at the moment. I have just done six long haul flights in six weeks. But I get to travel to 16 different countries every year and do what I love to do.”
There is already excitement in the Walker household about next season. Murray expects another battle between Ferrari and McLaren but reckons the gap to the other teams could close.
He said: “I hope it as good as last season.
“McLaren will naturally want to get the championships back from Ferrari who will want to retain them. Williams will have the definitive BMW engine. Benetton will have the Renault engine, which is supposed to be very special, and Jenson Button, of course.
“Potentially it will be a gigantically exciting season.”
Murray is renowned as the voice of motor racing and has been commentating on the sport for 50 years. While many of his contemporaries in other sports have retired, Murray is still going strong and has no intention of calling it a day just yet.
He told ITV-F1: “I would like to carry on. I have always said that I wanted to go on for as long as I feel ahead of the game and have the enthusiasm."
He added: “I would stop if people were saying ‘the old fool should jack it in’ but I get a lot of people coming up to me and saying very nice things.”
Murray is glad to have a chance to put his feet up after travelling to the US, Japan and Malaysia. But he said he never forgets how fortunate he is to do what he does.
He said: “I am a very lucky man. It was my hobby and I am fortunate enough to work on my hobby. Anyone would want to do that.
“I get tired like anyone. Everyone in Formula 1 is tired at the moment. I have just done six long haul flights in six weeks. But I get to travel to 16 different countries every year and do what I love to do.”
There is already excitement in the Walker household about next season. Murray expects another battle between Ferrari and McLaren but reckons the gap to the other teams could close.
He said: “I hope it as good as last season.
“McLaren will naturally want to get the championships back from Ferrari who will want to retain them. Williams will have the definitive BMW engine. Benetton will have the Renault engine, which is supposed to be very special, and Jenson Button, of course.
“Potentially it will be a gigantically exciting season.”