Steve Slater

Steve Slater,

is a Formula One commentator for STAR Sports and columnist for espnstar.com. He started in motor racing first as a ‘hopeful' amateur driver, then as writer and commentator and. Slater is a qualified light aircraft pilot and owns an aircraft restoration company. He is popularly know as voice of Formula One in Asia.

Early life

Born in Darlington, County Durham in 1957, Slater's interest in motor sport began with rallying and rally-cross; marshalling and then competing with cars such as Mini Coopers in the mid-1970s as a hobby in the North of England.

Career

In 1985 he became a freelance writer, local radio broadcaster and motor racing commentator. Slater also launched a regional motoring magazine and became one of the first satellite TV motor racing commentators for the Screensport channel.

Subsequent activities included handling media relations for Scotland's first-ever international motor race; the 1987 Scottish SuperPrix Formula Three event, which featured drivers such as Johnny Herbert, David Coulthard and Damon Hill. He also spent two years working with Britain's top stunt driver, Russ Swift, to create a driving display promoting Rover cars on dealer forecourts all over the country.

In 1989 Slater moved to London to join the agency CSS Promotions. One of his first jobs was the promotion of the British Touring Car Championship and the setting up of a new team, supported by Canadian sponsor Labatt. He now heads up Kingpin Media, an agency that handles copywriting and creation of media events, in addition to providing support for the Rockingham Motor Speedway track.

Alongside these activities, Stephen continued to operate as a journalist, writing for Autosport, Motor Sport and The Times. TV race commentaries included BTCC, DTM, Formula Three and Formula One Grands Prix for the BBC, ITV, Eurosport and Sky.

In 1995 Slater moved to Malmö, Sweden, where he acted as a marketing and promotions manager for the Mantorp Park motor racing circuit group and clients such as Mobil, Land Rover and Volvo as well as developing the Swedish Touring Car Championship. He was subsequently based in Brussels, working between Europe and Detroit as European PR co-ordinator for Chrysler. Even then, he continued to return to England fortnightly to commentate for Sky TV.

Slater returned to the UK in 1998. In addition to TV commentary work on national motorsport for Channel 4, Sky in the UK, and - of course - on STAR Sports. He also acts as the UK-based reporter, presenter and feature producer for the channel's 'Raceday' magazine programme.

(source:wikipedia)