Southport’s F1 voice Allen finds new home
FORMER Southport schoolboy, James Allen, today one of the most respected and well-known commentator/journalists in Formula One, has announced that his award-winning F1 blog JamesAllenonF1.com is moving onto the Motorsport Network, becoming part of the titles Motorsport.Com, Autosport.com and Motor1.com.
The 50-year-old ex-pupil of Sunneymede School in Birkdale and Merchant Taylors’, Crosby, who is perhaps best known for the time he was the voice of grand prix motorsport when he fronted ITVs Formula One coverage for seven years, between 2000-2008, after taking over the position from the legendary Murray Walker, says the reach of his popular blog will greatly increase worldwide.
But he promises that “nothing will change about the core values of the site which have always been providing authoritative insight and analysis from the inside of F1 to help fans get closer to the sport.
“I’m really excited to be making this move at this time and becoming part of the Motorsport Network team,” said Allen whose wide ranging career in the world of motorsport began as a press officer with the Brabham F1 team, followed by a period as News Editor with Autosport, today another part of the growing Motorsport Network.
He continued: “I’ve always been one to embrace change and with so much movement in our industry, this is the right moment and the right project.
“For the past 18 months I have been working in parallel with the Motorsport Network on various projects.
“In that time I have seen an organisation consolidating its prodigious assets, acquiring others of importance and setting a clear vision for the future, a vision that spans motorsport and automotive, gaming, events, commerce and technology.
With his background it was no surprise that James, with experience over 28 years as a commentator and journalist in the exciting world of F1, in media organisations including ITV, ESPN, the Finan- cial Times and, until recently, F1 correspondent at the BBC, chose a life in the fast lane
His father, W.E.J. “Bill” Allen, who lived in Cromer Road, Birkdale, before moving to Plymouth a few years ago, enjoyed considerable success as a racing driver, including class wins in a works Lotus-Elite at Le Mans and Spa in 1961
And while James did not follow in his footsteps, his career has always encompassed motor sport at the highest level.
Highlights have included following the fortunes of the 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell, who had decided to retire from F1 and join the IndyCar series in the United States of America. Mansell won the series in his rookie year and the friendship that followed led to the publication of Mansell’s best-selling autobiography.
Further best sellers, including two books on seven-times world champion Michel Schumacher, have also received acclaim as have several World Championship year books that have been published in the years since he set up JamesAllenonF1.com.
During the period that Allen was the voice of F1 and sharing commentating duties with ex-F1 and World Sportscar champion Martin Brundle, ITV won a series of BAFTA awards for its coverage.
And his now familiar voice can still be heard as the regular interviewer for postqualifying and post-race interviews with the F1 drivers at most World Championship races.
Motorsport.com and its parent company Motorsport Network have experienced rapid growth recently and is reputed to be the world’s largest independent automotive and motorsportrelated digital platform connecting hundreds of millions of people that love motorsport and cars.
Allen will play an important part in the ongoing development of Motorsport Network’s video content according to CEO, Colin Smith.
“Motorsport Network has been working with James on a number of projects and we are thrilled to now have him as a full time member.
“Having a world-class commentator and producer like James will play a key role in enhancing our video content for fans around the world.”