RESPECTED British motorsport commentator Neville Hay has passed away in England overnight.
Hay was best known to Australian viewers for his appearances on Channel 7’s Bathurst 1000 and touring car telecasts in the 1980s.
A trained actor, Hay was a huge motor racing fan who plied his trade in the family timber business and commentated motorsport on-track on weekends.
His talents were used in early video releases and eventually he formed Hay Fisher Production that expanded its productions as the home video market expanded in the 1980s.
The business’ coverage of the European Touring Car Championship during the Group A era of the 1980s helped forge a link with Mike Raymond and Channel 7 in Australia, one that opened the door to Hay joining the local commentary team for Bathurst in 1986, 1987 and 1988.
Hay’s son Richard, a long-time racer who competed in the 2002 and 2003 Le Mans 24 Hour, also joined the Channel 7 Bathurst broadcast team in the 1980s, well into the 1990s.
Richard’s daughter Abi now works for SRO Motorsports Australia as Head of Sporting and Business Development and son George runs Hayfisher Productions in the UK.
British motorsport commentator David Addison, the long-time TV voice of the British Touring Car Championship, paid tribute to Hay on X.
“A fantastic commentator and a brilliant raconteur, Nev did a lot to encourage and educate me when I started commentating,” he posted.
“A wonderful man who I shall miss enormously.”
V8 Sleuth extends its condolences to Neville’s widow Dorothy and children Richard, John and Stephanie.
