Personalities in motorsport often make valuable contributions to the sport, not only for their efforts while driving, but for what they provide to the broader motorsport community – the officials, members, competitors and fans.

The 2024 Motorsport Australia Personality of the Year Award recipient, Mark Larkham, stated he was humbled to receive the honour and grateful to be in his prominent role as an analyst for the Supercars Championship of which he has relished for more than a decade.

Do you know a potential Australian Motorsport Official of the Year? Make sure to nominate someone for next year’s awards night before the deadline closes this Friday.

“In my world, I get to do what I do because of a team effort, I’m very lucky to be part of Supercars in the broadcast team,” Larkham said.

“It’s not lost on me at all I’ve landed in this privileged position, and it’s a little unique.

“It’s a funny thing, I’m not a media person, I’m not a television person, I don’t like television, I don’t even like the media, get that, right?

“That’s the truth, I live on the farm, I consider myself a racing person, I feel like a competitor still.

“A few years back, the fans had my back, and now I feel a deep and sincere obligation to have their back. So I turn up at every event and I see my role is to break down, explain, and dig in on how they can understand motorsport a little bit more, and if we all enjoy it, we all get a little bit more from it.”

Born in Benalla in country Victoria and raised in the New South Wales town of Griffith, “Larko” as he is affectionately known, always had a fondness of touring cars.

Making the move to Formula Ford in 1988, Larkham then shifted over to competing in the Australian Production Car Championship briefly, and then to the Australian Drivers’ Championship between 1990-1993.

Starting his own team, Larkham Motor Sport, Larkham competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship from 1995 to 2004.

As part of Larkham’s acceptance speech, he reflected on and heaped praise on the role Stewards and Officials played at the season opener of the Supercars Championship at the Thrifty Sydney 500.

“Motorsport Australia to me feels fresh, young, invigorated, it’s got a good future.

“A great demonstration, and if you will let me put my Supercars hat on for a minute, was seeing that unbelievable race the other day, which could go down as one of the best Supercars finishes in history.

“That might not have happened, when with three laps left, all the hoohah happened on track, and the decision goes up to Craig Baird, James Taylor, the Motorsport Australia Stewards, and they have to make a call and the outcome of it would have a great effect.

“They could have interpreted it either way, and they interpreted it for the betterment of the sport and we got to all enjoy that, and I thought it was a marvellous outcome.

“So, well done to Motorsport Australia for that outcome.

“I’m part of a team, a great bunch of people. I’m just a small cog in a big wheel. I don’t do this for awards, I don’t have a social media account.

“I’m deeply and genuinely humbled, this will take pride in the trophy cabinet.”

Former Personality of The Year winners include Craig Lowndes, Scott McLaughlin, Molly Taylor, and Grant Denyer.

Nominations for the 2025 Motorsport Australia State and National Awards, proudly presented by Shannons Insurance, are closing on Friday 24 October.

Be sure to nominate before the nomination period closes.