Murray: back in the box

I didn't stop commentating because I wanted to, I stopped because I had been doing it for 53 years and I wanted to get out with dignity while I felt I was still ahead.

Murray Walker
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RACE OF CHAMPIONS
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• Wembley transformed
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• Race format

Murray Walker can barely contain his excitement ahead of his return to the commentary box for the Race of Champions.

Six years have passed since Murray commentated on his last Formula One race for a British television audience and he cannot wait to pick up his microphone again for Sunday's prestigious event at Wembley Stadium.

The 84-year-old has been keeping himself busy by becoming a regular on the after-dinner circuit, as well as starting work on his second book and taking up a role as an ambassador for the Honda Formula One team.

But he admits the chance to work for Sky Sports on a race which features drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and Marcus Gronholm was too good to turn down because he didn't really want to retire in the first place.

"The Race of Champions appeals to me enormously," he told skysports.com.

"I didn't stop commentating because I wanted to, I stopped because I had been doing it for 53 years and I wanted to get out with dignity while I felt I was still ahead.

"I could have gone on and ideally I would have liked to. So when Sky Sports asked me to come and do the Race of Champions I nearly bit their hands off because it's going to be an enormously exciting event.

"When you think of the location - the new Wembley - and when you look at the line-up you've got champions from all the various disciplines. They are all gigantically competitive and it's going to be a tremendously exciting atmosphere in front of an enormously enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd.

"The British are very keen on motor sport and I think there is going to be a capacity crowd at Wembley and it's going to be really, really, really exciting to talk about."

Catching up

The Race of Champions sees the biggest names in motor sport going head-to-head in identical cars on a purpose-built track in a venue where spectators can see every twist and turn of the action.

And Murray is looking forward to catching up with the likes of Schumacher for the first time since his retirement, as well as seeing the best of the current crop of British stars.

"I haven't met Michael Schumacher since I retired," he continues.

"He came to my retirement party at Indianapolis in 2001 and though I've seen him when I've been to Grands Prix, I haven't actually spoken to him. So I will be trying to catch up with him on the day.

"I would like to see Jenson Button do well because he's British, he hasn't had the breaks in Formula One and because I know he's good enough to win against the competition.

"I would also like to see Andy Priaulx, who is the other British competitor and is the World Touring Car Champion, do well because I know him.

"But basically I'd be happy for any of them to win. They are all nice people and they are all putting their reputations on the line for no return as none of them are being paid. It's a laudable thing for them to do and is indicative of the fact that they really want to do it."

The new Wembley Stadium has undergone a remarkable transformation ahead of the Race of Champions with the hallowed turf being replaced by a specially-designed 1km long high-speed parallel track.

And while Murray is thrilled with the opportunity to visit the new national stadium he revealed this is not the first time he has watched racing at the home of football.

"Funnily enough I have done motor sport from Wembley before," he says.

"At the old Wembley they used to have one of the best dirt tracks in Britain and I've commentated there in the past.

"I also remember going to Wembley before the war because the manager of Wembley Speedway was a great friend of my father and mother.

Royal Box

"So when I was a boy we used to go to Wembley for the dirt track racing and we would sit in the Royal Box to watch the races. Then we would have dinner with the riders afterwards - people such as Bluey Wilkinson, who was the Michael Schumacher of the dirt track world back then.

"But I haven't seen what they've done at the new Wembley yet and that's one of the things I'm looking forward to. I went to the old stadium quite a lot, but the new one seems to be something else.

"The people who have organised the Race of Champions say that from their point of view it is absolutely the ideal venue and they hope to be there for years to come."

And while Murray is clearly excited about the contest, he is struggling to pick a winner because there are so many champions on show.

However, if he has his way, then we will see a British name walking away from the famous stadium with the trophy.

"One of the great things about the Race of Champions for me is the absolute unpredictability of the race," he concludes.

"Schumacher has competed before and was beaten by Heikki Kovalainen, who not many people had heard of.

"There are so many factors that will affect the result, not the least of which is that they are all bloody good drivers. So I wouldn't like to put my money on anyone.

"But if I was a betting man and the odds were good enough, I would put some money on Jenson Button because I regard him as a friend, because he's a Honda driver, because he's a very nice bloke, because he deserves a break and because he's certainly good enough."

Murray Walker is commentating for Sky Sports' during its exclusively live coverage of the Race of Champions on Sunday.