21 Facts About Mark Skaife

Mark Skaife was born on 3 April 1967 and is a retired Australian motor racing driver.

Since retiring from driving, Mark Skaife has worked as a commentator and presenter for the series for both the Seven Network and Fox Sports Australia.

Mark Skaife was born in Gosford, New South Wales, the son of touring car racer, Russell Mark Skaife.

Mark Skaife attended Wyong High School and is a known supporter of National Rugby League club the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

Mark Skaife began racing karts in the 1980s in his native New South Wales, before moving to Melbourne to complete his apprenticeship under Fred Gibson.

In 1985 Mark Skaife joined the NSW Ford Laser Series, finishing second in the series.

Mark Skaife again finished runner up in the 1986 NSW Laser Series and winning the Victorian Series of the same year.

In 1987 Mark Skaife won the Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship in a Gibson Motorsport prepared Nissan Gazelle, before finishing 19th on Bathurst 1000 debut in same car.

However, it was alleged that it had actually been Mark Skaife, dressed in Jarret's race suit and wearing his helmet, who had actually set the time with some pointing to the fact that Mark Skaife was nowhere to be seen in the pits when Jarret allegedly set his qualifying time.

Nissan team boss Fred Gibson refuted these claims at the time but years later admitted that Mark Skaife had indeed qualified the car as Jarret.

Ironically Jarret's fastest race lap in the Gazelle was actually faster than the qualifying time Mark Skaife had set posing as Jarret.

Mark Skaife failed to finish both the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 alongside George Fury.

In 1989 Mark Skaife made four ATCC starts as third driver in the Gibson Nissan team, starring in the wet at Winton on the way to fifth place.

Mark Skaife paired with Jim Richards for endurance races, winning Sandown 500 before taking his first Bathurst 1000 podium in the Group A Nissan Skyline HR31 with third place.

Between 1991 and 1993 Mark Skaife won 3 consecutive Australian Drivers Championships, earning 3 CAMS Gold Stars.

Mark Skaife reached 200 championship round starts in the final event of 2007.

Mark Skaife announced on 17 October 2011, that he will retire as an endurance racer in order to take up the role as Chairman of the newly formed V8 Supercars Commission.

Mark Skaife ends his driving career with 482 race starts, 90 race wins, 42 event wins, 41 pole positions and 5 drivers championships.

Mark Skaife became a co-commentator for the V8 Supercars series alongside Neil Crompton and Matthew White, continuing in this position until Seven lost the rights after the 2014 season.

In 2015, with the broadcast rights moving to a shared deal between Fox Sports and Network Ten, Mark Skaife joined Fox Sports.

From 2016, Mark Skaife returned to the commentary box as a commentator, whilst retaining his presenting roles at Fox Sports.