{"id":247459,"date":"2026-01-23T07:32:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T07:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/247459\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T07:32:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T07:32:16","slug":"supercars-news-mark-larkham-saviour-launches-neil-crompton-petition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/247459\/","title":{"rendered":"Supercars news: Mark Larkham saviour launches Neil Crompton petition"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Larko
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNeil Crompton, the long-time voice of Supercars. Image: Richard Gresham<\/p>\n

Mark Doust was a key figure in prompting a backflip from Supercars back in late 2020 after it announced that Larkham wouldn\u2019t continue as part of the broadcast team the following year.<\/p>\n

An online petition led by Doust amassed 20,000-odd signatures<\/a> to highlight Larkham\u2019s popularity, undoubtedly contributing to a decision from Supercars to retain Larkham into the 2021 season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Larkham remains a key figure in the Supercars broadcast to this day.<\/p>\n

As revealed by Speedcafe<\/a>, a new wave of major changes to the Supercars broadcast are coming for 2026.<\/p>\n

As it stands, long-time voice of the sport Crompton is set to lose his role as lead caller for the series, while co-caller Mark Skaife is also expected to move out of the commentary box, at least in terms of what has been a permanent role.<\/p>\n

That has prompted Doust to launch a new campaign, focussed on Crompton but also including a suggested reprieve for Skaife.<\/p>\n

The petition is available here<\/a><\/p>\n

Unlike in the Larkham case, this campaign is less focussed on stopping change altogether. Rather, it is about giving the two callers the opportunity to bow out in a manner Doust feels is more fitting of their contribution to Supercars.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m worried that Supercars is denying transparency to the fans and natural justice to Neil,\u201d he told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe question I have is, was [Crompton] offered a situation that was, \u2018look we need to make a change, but we\u2019re looking to do this over a year\u2019s period of time?\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr was it a case of, \u2018we\u2019re making the change, and we\u2019re going offer you a little bit, but only a few rounds here and there?\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can understand there\u2019s going to be change. There\u2019s always going to be change. We all get it.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeil, I\u2019m sure, would know that too, as would Mark Skaife. There\u2019s got to be change and things have to bring freshened up.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you\u2019ve got to manage change and manage it without it creating a crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would have thought that it would have been reasonable, and also smart marketing, to say, \u2018we\u2019re going to do this over 12 months. Basically a farewell tour to show the respect and appreciation that both of those people deserve.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd could you imagine, for example, the crowd being any more amped up at Bathurst to see Neil in an AU Falcon and Skaife in a VY Commodore doing laps, commentating with each other?\u201d<\/p>\n

The new-look TV line-up for Supercars is expected to be announced during an official season launch on February 17, just three days out from the season-opening Sydney 500.<\/p>\n

The late nature of any official communication regarding Crompton\u2019s future is something that doesn\u2019t sit well with Doust.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the Larko situation, he made a statement on the day,\u201d Doust added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was transparent. He made it clear it wasn\u2019t his decision and everybody knew what the state of play was.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this case there\u2019s been nothing official and I think a lot of the fan base don\u2019t actually believe it\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the success of his Larkham campaign, Doust is realistic that lightning striking twice is unlikely.<\/p>\n

Still, he hopes the petition will at the very least highlight to Crompton the importance of the role he has played for Supercars over his long career in various roles.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeil has spent decades in the category, in various different roles from commentator to driver to what he\u2019s done most recently by helping bring Toyota into the series,\u201d said Doust.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that point he was being lauded by Supercars as being instrumental to the category. So to me it makes no sense.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf nothing else, Neil deserves to know that people do care. If this change is happening, it\u2019s not because he\u2019s not popular with the fans. That\u2019s simply not right.\u201d<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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