On The Grid

THERE'S no one better to help debrief the incredible Indy 500 than the man who did such an incredible job calling it - NBC Sports' Leigh Diffey. The boy from Brisbane is acknowledged as the voice of IndyCar racing these days and his call of Helio Castroneves winning his fourth 500 was memorable for all the right reasons. Leigh reflects on the privilege of being part of history, the significance of having fans back at the Speedway, the call and his upcoming adventure to call track and field for NBC at the Tokyo Olympics. Then we speak to Tom Arciuli from Doric, one of the longest serving supporters and sponsors of Aussie motorsport, and find out what makes motorsport sponsorship work, how it operates and why they pick the drivers to support that they do.

A DIFFERENT On the Grid this week - you see, we plain ran out of time to book a guest so instead it's Schibecs, Craillsy and Walker rabbiting on about everything in the racing world. There's a Winton preview, a look at Indy500 qualifying, everything wrong with the Monaco GP and a random, Indy-inspired theory for changing up Bathurst qualifying. Honestly, if you were going to miss a show, this would be the one to skip because if you're looking for a fascinating guest filled with deep racing insight, you've come to the wrong place.. Otherwise, join the sleep-deprived fun!

THE INDY 500 is just around the corner, so On the Grid is taking this opportunity to look ahead to the race and, in particular, assess Scott McLaughlin’s impact on the US scene so far. We can waffle on about it, but we also have zero credibility – so we thought we would rope in someone who does. Marshall Pruett is the best IndyCar journo going around, covering the series for RACER.com and his own podcast. He also loves all things Down Under so he’s the perfect man to give some insight on not just how Scotty Mac has performed so far, but how he has been embraced by the series, his rivals, the media and indeed, the US fans. After that it’s our usual prattle as the boys chat about Australia’s most underrated racing drivers and launch a quest to name the top 10 from that particular category. That, Schibeci butchers the name of the show for the second time, and much more.

A WINNER just four rounds into his journey as a Supercars team owner, Kelly-Grove Racing's Stephen Grove joins the show to discuss the remarkable weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park that saw Andre Heimgartner grab a victory on Saturday. As well as discussing that slightly unexpected success and the season so far, Stephen looks ahead to his goals for the team moving forward, talks his own racing in Carrera Cup and GT World Challenge and future 12 Hour plans - and more. Then we chat to Cameron Hill, who is doing incredible things in this year's Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship, winning his third-straight round at the weekend. He's a star and doing big things in arguably the most competitive one-make championship in local history.. There's all that and the debrief from a massive weekend at The Bend as the Ford's struck back.

By winning this years S5000, Joey Mawson became the latest name to be engraved on the esteemed Gold Star Trophy. We chat to Joey about the season and find out what he has planned for the future.

A COUPLE of two-time Australian Drivers Championship winners join the show this week, John Bowe and Tim Macrow helping us preview a monster weekend of racing at Sydney Motorsport Park. Bowe is first up, discussing his ongoing health battles and his openness in discussing it with the broader public. He talks TCM, Gold Star memories and S5000 plus a whole lot more. As always, he’s a ripper chat. Unfortunately we ran out of time to discuss the fact that he’s been immortalised in a new range of racing-themed kids books published by Motorsport PR guru, Grant Rowley. To make up for that, you can read all about them here. Then it’s two-time Gold Star champion Tim Macrow who is in the thick of the intense title battle for S5000 this weekend in Sydney. Claiming a third would put him in elite company of just five other drivers – can he do it? We literally asked the man himself.

After starting 4th in the final race at Tassie and finishing 7th, Zane Goddard has proven he can mix it with the best, and even better than the personal achievement is the performance of Matt Stone Racing to provide him with a car that could compete. We talk to Zane about his career as a Full Time Supercar driver and life in the fast lane. We also wrap up a big weekend in Motorsport from around the world.

NEVER short of a comment, David Reynolds is our featured guest this week as the Kelly Grove Racing driver talks all things Supercars 2021 following his move to the Mustang squad. He's open and frank about his step into parenthood, his changes to the KGR Mustangs since his first drive, teammate Andre Heimgartner and how his shift into the TV world has earned those who do it full time more of his respect! It's the usually candid Reynolds we all know, and very much worth a listen. Then the OTG team answer your questions submitted via social media, while preparing for this weekend's ultra marathon of motorsport events happening here and around the world.

NEVER short of a comment, David Reynolds is our featured guest this week as the Kelly Grove Racing driver talks all things Supercars 2021 following his move to the Mustang squad. He's open and frank about his step into parenthood, his changes to the KGR Mustangs since his first drive, teammate Andre Heimgartner and how his shift into the TV world has earned those who do it full time more of his respect! It's the usually candid Reynolds we all know, and very much worth a listen. Then the OTG team answer your questions submitted via social media, while preparing for this weekend's ultra marathon of motorsport events happening here and around the world.

NEVER short of a comment, David Reynolds is our featured guest this week as the Kelly Grove Racing driver talks all things Supercars 2021 following his move to the Mustang squad. He's open and frank about his step into parenthood, his changes to the KGR Mustangs since his first drive, teammate Andre Heimgartner and how his shift into the TV world has earned those who do it full time more of his respect! It's the usually candid Reynolds we all know, and very much worth a listen. Then the OTG team answer your questions submitted via social media, while preparing for this weekend's ultra marathon of motorsport events happening here and around the world.

NEVER short of a comment, David Reynolds is our featured guest this week as the Kelly Grove Racing driver talks all things Supercars 2021 following his move to the Mustang squad. He's open and frank about his step into parenthood, his changes to the KGR Mustangs since his first drive, teammate Andre Heimgartner and how his shift into the TV world has earned those who do it full time more of his respect! It's the usually candid Reynolds we all know, and very much worth a listen. Then the OTG team answer your questions submitted via social media, while preparing for this weekend's ultra marathon of motorsport events happening here and around the world.

HE has scored more than 10,000 runs playing for Victoria and averaged more than 50 for his country - but what brings Cricketing legend Brad Hodge to On The Grid? A deep passion for motorsport, that's what. Now part of the Seven Sport commentary team, Hodgey joins Richard and Mark not just for a debrief on all the incredible Bathurst 6 Hour action, but also how racing came into his world, how other sports translate into our game and his efforts as a broadcaster, plus much more. It's an insightful, entertaining and informative chat and we guarantee you'll learn stuff you didn't know before. Beyond that we run down the adventures of the Easter long weekend on the Mountain with a recap of everything Hot, Not & What from the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.

Joined by Beric Lynton the 2019 winner of the Bathurst 6 hour

IT WAS a massive weekend at the Sandown Supercars as top-level motorsport returned to Melbourne after a 53-week absence, and we've got two of the stars from the weekend on the show to tell us all about it. Gold Star / S5000 leader Joey Mawson is up first to discuss his return to racing Down Under and how much he's loving the new Aussie big-banger open wheelers - plus leading the championship with a round to go. Then Erebus star Brodie Kostecki is on the show to reflect on his incredible podium finish in the sodden conditions on Sunday afternoon, his rise to the full-time seat at the team and his approach to racing this year.. it's a cracking chat!

Tony D'Alberto joins us for a chat re TCR Australia and DJR Bathurst Drive

Jack talks about the burns to his feet from Bathurst and Knuckles looks forward to this weekends Shannons Event at Phillip Island

Mark Winterbottom and Garth Tander join the team to talk about race 1 of the 2021 Repco Supercars season

TCM Cars at Bathurst are cool. Very Cool. Which is why we've got three-time TCM champ and all round good bloke Steven Johnson on the show to talk about it. He's racing an XD Falcon now, running as a tribute to his old man's famous Ford that made the Johnson name so famous at Bathurst in the early 80s. Stevie J talks developing the car, his thoughts on close family friend JB and his battles and much, much more. Then Will Davison is back to preview his first weekend back as a DJR driver as the Supercars head to the Mountain. Plus, we predict what will be 'Hot' or 'Not' this year. Probably badly, but it was fun trying!

Jack Perkins is back On the Grid this week with stories about the ongoing works to return some classic Perkins Touring Car machinery back to perfect condition, plus a new book that will document the full history of the Perkins Engineering output. Jack also talks TV, hints about a new Bathurst drive and much more. Then, rising star of the Aussie Country Music scene Courtney Keil is on the show to talk about her longstanding relationship with motorsport and close links to a Bathurst hero - plus some new tunes dropping soon. There's that and all the news and views, what the Daytona 500 sounded like in Spanish and how Tony Schibeci jinxed us all..

It's something different this week as Schibecs, Craillsy and Walker run through their top five races that must not be missed in 2021. We all sat on the sidelines in 2020, so everyone is keen to get back to the track, Pandemic pending, of course. There's that, plus hear from Will Davison, Anton de Pasquale and Dick Johnson from the launch of Shell V-Power Racing's 2021 campaign.