Charlie Cox (racing driver)

Last updated

Charlie Cox
Nationality Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australian
Born (1964-10-10) 10 October 1964 (age 60)
Gymea, Sydney, Australia
British Touring Car Championship
Years active 1995
TeamsThames Ford Dealers
Starts12
Wins0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish5th in 1995
Championship titles
1993, 1994
1993
National Saloon Car Cup - Class A
BRDC National Sports GT Challenge - Class A

Charles Raymond Cox (born 10 October 1964) is a Senior Media Executive, as well as a former broadcaster and racing driver.

Contents

He was brought up in the suburb of Born and brought up in the suburb of Gymea in Sydney, New South Wales, Charlie now lives with his family in the UK.

Racing career

Charlie Cox's 1995 British Touring Car Championship Ford Mondeo. Charlie Cox - Ford Mondeo in the paddock at the British GP support round of the BTCC 1995 (49772276683).jpg
Charlie Cox's 1995 British Touring Car Championship Ford Mondeo.

Cox's earliest exposure to racing was in Australia in the late 1980s in the Production car-based "Street Sedans", raced on tracks in the Sydney area.

Cox raced a Ford Escort RS Cosworth in the 1993 National Saloon Car Cup in Britain, winning six races, including the Willhire 24 Hour at Snetterton, to clinch the Class A championship. Cox retained his title the following year, taking five wins during the season. He also claimed the Class A title in the 1993 BRDC National Sports GT Challenge. [1]

For 1995 Cox moved up to the British Touring Car Championship in a Ford Mondeo for his recently formed Thames Ford Dealers team with sponsorship from the Evening Standard newspaper.

He caused a sensation in a wet race early in the season by finishing 5th, although behind both works Fords, choosing the correct tyres and recovering from an early spin.

However, a huge barrel-rolling crash at Thruxton left him with concussion, and caused him to miss several races. When he returned it was in a hatchback Mondeo, making him the first driver to race one in the BTCC.

He subsequently raced internationally in Sportscars as well as three appearances at the Bathurst 1000.driving the Vittoria Coffee Commodore.

From 1996 to 2001, Cox raced International Class GT sports cars in the UK, South Africa and across Europe. Notably, Cox raced a GT1 Factory Harrier in the 1997 British GT Championship.

Racing record

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCar12345678910111213141516171819202122232425DCPts
1995 Thames Ford Dealers Ford Mondeo Ghia DON
1

18
DON
2

Ret
BRH
1

5
BRH
2

15
THR
1

13
THR
2

DNS
SIL
1
SIL
2
OUL
1
OUL
2
BRH
1
BRH
2
DON
1
DON
2
SIL KNO
1
KNO
2
BRH
1

21
BRH
2

15
SNE
1

Ret
SNE
2

16
OUL
1

Ret
OUL
2

DNS
SIL
1

Ret
SIL
2

14
23rd8

Complete V8 Supercar Championship results

Supercars results
YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233PositionPoints
1999 Challenge Motorsport Holden Commodore VS EAS
R1
EAS
R2
EAS
R3
ADE
R4
BAR
R5
BAR
R6
BAR
R7
PHI
R8
PHI
R9
PHI
R10
HID
R11
HID
R12
HID
R13
SAN
R14
SAN
R15
SAN
R16
QLD
R17
QLD
R18
QLD
R19
CAL
R20
CAL
R21
CAL
R22
SYM
R23
SYM
R24
SYM
R25
WIN
R26
WIN
R27
WIN
R28
ORA
R29
ORA
R30
ORA
R31
QLD
R32
BAT
R33

Ret
NC0

Complete Bathurst 1000 results

YearTeamCarCo-driverPositionLaps
1997 Challenge Motorsport Holden Commodore VS Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris Smerdon17th143
1998 Challenge Motorsport Holden Commodore VS Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris SmerdonDNF60
1999 Challenge Motorsport Holden Commodore VS Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chris SmerdonDNF122

Commentary career

Following a career racing cars, Cox moved into the commentary box in 1997, commentating on BTCC in 1997 alongside the legendary voice of motorsport, Murray Walker.

Following Walker's departure in 1998, Cox was lined-up alongside 1982 Formula One World Championship runner-up John Watson. The BBC's loss of BTCC coverage, allowed Cox to move to motorbike coverage alongside Steve Parrish and Suzi Perry.

This move led to the BBC appointing Cox to commentate alongside Steve Parish on the MotoGP. Cox became known for his individual, comical and at times, tongue-in-cheek style, with catchphrases and one-liners expected as a staple serving for listeners.

An established and fondly remembered voice of motorsport, Cox frequently referred to co-commentator Steve Parrish as "Oracle".

Top Gear Australia

Named as one of the hosts for the first season of Top Gear Australia . Along with cartoonist Warren Brown and advanced driving instructor Steve Pizzati, Top Gear Australia premiered on SBS on 29 September 2008. [2]

On the 19th December 2008, Cox announced his departure from Top Gear owing to a lack of time and opting to focus on his broadcasting career in the UK as BBC's MotoGP commentator until 2013.

Media

As well as racing and sports, Charlie Cox has become well known within the media and publishing industry.

In 1990, Charlie arrived in London to take over LBC radio, returning the company to a profitable state while launching new radio stations.

The former CEO of the UK's biggest circulation newspaper, The Metro, Cox has worked as an adviser to The Daily Mail Group since the 1990s. and is a Director on the board for ITN.

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References

  1. "Charlie Cox". The British Racing Drivers' Club. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  2. news.com.au Archived 29 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine