F1 commentator Murray Walker retires
Saturday, 29 September 2001 09:59Legendary Formula One commentator Murray Walker was a given a rousing send off last night as his 52-year career came to an emotional end.
Among the crowd gathered to pay tribute to Walker included virtually all of the current driver line-up, including Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard, numerous team chiefs and the boss of Formula One Bernie Ecclestone.
F1 stars queued up to pay tribute to the great commentator and Ecclestone led the tributes saying Walker will have a Formula One pass for life. David Coulthard said Murray Walker was a big a name as Ferrari, MacLaren or Bernie Ecclestone, while former driver and colleague Martin Brundle said the great man was like a father to him.
Walker himself seemed touched by the celebration: "I am overwhelmed, I had four people come up to me and say they were sorry they could not be at the party, but I did not even know there was going to be a party," he said.
Sunday's Grand Prix in the US will be the last time 77-year-old Walker talks viewers through the thrills and spills of a Formula One race.
Filed by Tom Grealis
