V8 SuperTourer team owner Steve Horne has been appointed the new chairman of the V8 Supercars Commission.
Horne will replace inaugural Commission Chairman Mark Skaife who moves into a strategic role with V8 Supercars when his current two-year tenure expires in October.
Joining Horne on the Commission will be Neil Crompton who has been appointed as the Independent Commissioner in place of the departing Chris Lambden.
New Zealander Horne, who has had a formidable career as a mechanic, team manager and team owner in IndyCar racing, with a total of 95 race wins and 14 championships in the United States, currently runs a single Ford entry shared by Daniel Gaunt and Andrew Waite in the New Zealand V8 SuperTourers championship.
“I am delighted the Commission has appointed Steve and Neil to these important positions for the sport,” V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said.
“Steve is the ideal successor to Mark who has taken the Commission through its first two years with great passion, success and professionalism.
“The role of Commission Chairman needs to be an independent, strong and robust leader. They need to effectively manage the Commission and its process, make the tough decisions, broker compromise where required and be a good communicator. Steve has all of these traits.”
The term of the Chairman is two years and Horne will look to integrate his vast experience and leadership into the role.
“I view this role as continuing the great work already done by Mark and the Commission,” Horne said.
“I want to provide a sounding board for key players’ thoughts and ideas, to make strong and sensible decisions and bring a strategic thought process to those key decision making moments.”
Crompton, who drove for Horne in the 1997 North American Touring Car Championship season, competed professionally in open-wheel and touring car racing for over 15 years (including V8 Supercars, Super Touring Cars, and Group A Touring Cars) is highly regarded for his expert and in-depth V8 Supercars commentary for the Seven Network.
“Neil has an amazing depth of knowledge of V8 Supercars which he imparts with great wisdom on and off the television screen,” Warburton said.
“I have met very few people with such an extensive understanding of the industry combined with an amazing passion. Neil will be a great successor to Chris who did such an outstanding job in the first two years of the Commission.”
