Sports · Motorsport · 7 hrs ago
Neil Crompton says Supercars wanted a new caller before his exit
Neil Crompton says Supercars wanted a “proper caller” before he left its broadcast team.
The veteran Australian commentator had covered the championship for decades, alongside Mark Skaife, who also departed.
Supercars offered Crompton a reduced role for 2026, including only two race calls, and he says the proposed pay cut was 80 percent.
He says the comment about needing a proper caller stung most, though he accepted that the broadcast needed younger voices and fresh ideas.
Crompton said he would have preferred to scale back gradually and have a chance to address any concerns about his work.
He declined the reduced role and left the broadcast team; Richard Craill became lead caller and Garth Tander took over as expert commentator.
Crompton continues working in motorsport, including a consulting role with Toyota and involvement in the Toyota GR86 series.
Neil Crompton says Supercars wanted a new caller and told him it needed a “proper caller” before he left its broadcast team.
He says he would have preferred to reduce his commitments gradually rather than leave immediately or accept a reduced role.
Supercars offered him work for two 2026 races and a proposal involving an 80 percent pay cut, according to Crompton.
He declined the offer and took up a motorsport advisory role with Toyota Australia.
Richard Craill became lead race caller, while Garth Tander took over Mark Skaife’s expert commentator role.
- Who
- Neil Crompton, a long-time Supercars commentator, says Supercars wanted a new caller before his exit.
- What
- Crompton has described the reasons he was given for leaving the broadcast team and the reduced role he was offered.
- When
- He spoke publicly in October 2026 about his departure after the 2025 season.
- Where
- The departure was from Supercars’ broadcast team in Australia.
- Why
- Crompton says Supercars wanted change and newer voices. He says he was told research showed he was “old and tired” and that the series needed a “proper caller.
Neil Crompton
Supercars
Reason for the change
Neil Crompton
Crompton says Supercars wanted a new caller and told him the research said he had to go.
Supercars
Supercars’ stated reasons, as reported by Crompton, included wanting change and newer voices.
Proposed role
Neil Crompton
Crompton says he was offered a reduced role, including two race calls, with an 80 percent pay cut.
Supercars
Supercars offered him a reduced role for 2026, according to the articles.
Crompton says he had been helping James Warburton return as Supercars chief executive and noticed early in the year that Warburton wanted change.
Crompton and Mark Skaife left the Supercars broadcast team after the season finale in Adelaide.
Supercars offered Crompton a reduced broadcast role, including calls at Bathurst and The Bend, which he declined.
Crompton spoke publicly about his departure and the reasons he says Supercars gave him.
- Proposed pay reduction
- 80 percent
- Proposed race calls
- Bathurst and The Bend
- New lead race caller
- Richard Craill
- New expert commentator
- Garth Tander
- Toyota role
- Official motorsport advisor for Toyota Australia
3 sources
What people are saying
The one that actually did insult me was 'we need a proper caller'. I don't know what the f--- (Warburton) thought I'd been doing for 25 years.
The one that actually did insult me was [being told] 'we need a proper caller'. I don't know what the f*** he thought I'd been doing for 25 years.
He wanted it to be newer and fresher, which I fully understand and I actually support.
The offer was to stay connected on the basis of an 80 percent paycut.