Media presenter Alison ‘Ali’ Drower, among the pioneers for women in motorsport in Australia, has died.

Media presenter Alison ‘Ali’ Drower, best known for motorsports presenting, has died following a battle with cancer.

She died on Sunday, surrounded by loved ones at Canberra Hospital.

Drower’s career spanned decades, working in motorsport alongside Greg Rust for Ten Motorsport on RPM as well as broadcasts for Supercars.

She was well-known for her role alongside Doug Mulray at Triple M and was also the early face of MTV Australia alongside Richard Wilkins.

She later became the regional news director for Southern Cross Austereo and recently worked with ARN where she championed upcoming talent.

“Ali Drower was a giant of the Australian news industry,” said Australian Radio Network’s (ARN) head of news and information, Fiona Ellis-Jones.

“She had a rare mix of curiosity, strategic insight and sharp intellect that made her one of the most remarkable minds in news.

“Ali could look at any challenge and instantly see the opportunities.

“Her legacy lives on in the hundreds of journalists she mentored and the leaders she inspired.

“More than anything else, Ali was a mum and a wife.”

She is also the mother of Supercars racer Zach Bates and wife of former Australian rally driver Rick Bates.

Greg Rust said Drower was “among the pioneers for women in motorsport in Australia”.

“As a lead and features reporter for RPM, she brought a balance that was needed beyond the hardcore love the rest of us had,” he said.

“Ali injected laughs and a sense of fun that helped unmask the competitors and see more of their wonderful personalities.

“She once blindsided Neil Crompton with a cheeky line about a map of Tassie as they covered the Targa Tasmania Rally.

“Crompo is such a pro I’ve only heard him laugh that loudly (on air) a couple of times in my career. She got him that day.

“Ali had a longstanding career in the media (a business that can be a brutal roller coaster ride) because of her talent and commitment.

“She should still be here with that infectious smile and a vibrancy that the rest of us were fortunate enough to drink in.

“Go well at Bathurst, Zach. She was so proud of you mate! God I hate cancer.”

Source: Seven News, SpeedCafe