Long-time Formula One presenter Tom Clarkson will end his streak of attending every Grand Prix since 1998 with his planned absence at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The broadcaster, best known as the host of the FIA press conferences during race weekends and the front of the Beyond the Grid F1 podcast series, has gone 28 years without missing a race, but his record will end next month.
Race rescheduled to Malaysia
The Grand Prix was originally set to be held in Bahrain in April before it was cancelled due to unrest in the Middle East, and has since been rescheduled to take place in Malaysia on October 4. The race will go without Clarkson, who will be replaced by Rachel Brookes for the weekend due to a clash of schedules.
Tour clash with race weekend
Earlier this year, the presenter and former F1 world champion Damon Hill began their 'An Evening with Damon Hill – In Conversation with Tom Clarkson' UK tour. The tour celebrates the 30th anniversary of Hill's title victory in 1996 with Williams. The success of their partnership has resulted in a five-date expansion of the tour to take place in Australia and New Zealand from September 28 to October 5. The rescheduling of the Bahrain Grand Prix for next month means Clarkson will have to miss out on the race.
Clarkson on the tour
Clarkson opened up about the new tour dates in Oceania and told Speedcafe: "Well everyone loves an anniversary don’t they? So the 30th anniversary of Damon winning the world title in 1996 felt like a great opportunity to sort of celebrate with him."
"And that’s why Damon and I went and did this tour in the UK back in January. We did nine dates, top to bottom. Scotland to the bottom of England. And we had so much fun doing it that the organisers Fane said, ‘Guys, that was amazing. Would you ever think about perhaps taking it abroad?’ And we were like, ‘yeah, sure!'", he added.
