Mark Skaife Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Skaife
Skaife at the Australian GP in 2006
Nationality	Australian
Born	(1967-04-03) 3 April 1967 (age 58) Gosford, New South Wales, Australia

Supercars record
Series championships	5 (1992, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Races	479
Race wins	90
Podium finishes	203
Pole positions	41

Mark Stephen Skaife (born April 3, 1967) is a famous Australian former race car driver. He won the V8 Supercar Championship Series five times. He also won the famous Bathurst 1000 race six times. Mark stopped racing full-time in 2008. After racing, he became a TV commentator and presenter for car racing shows. He also helps design race tracks, like the Albert Park Circuit.

About Mark Skaife
Racing Career Highlights
Media Career
Images for kids
See also

About Mark Skaife

Mark was born in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. His dad, Russell Skaife, was also a race car driver. Mark is married to Toni and has three children: Mitch, Mia, and Tilly. He went to Wyong High School. Mark is a big fan of the National Rugby League team, the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

In 2004, Mark received the Medal of the Order of Australia. This award was for his work in motor racing and for charity. In 2006, Mark set a Guinness World Record. He drove a HSV Maloo ute at 277.16 kilometers per hour (172.21 miles per hour). This was the fastest speed ever for a production ute. In 2024, he was added to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Racing Career Highlights

Starting Out

Mark began his racing journey in the 1980s. He started with karts in New South Wales. Later, he moved to Melbourne to learn more about racing cars. His first car race was in 1984 at Amaroo Park. He drove a Holden Torana XU-1 sports sedan. His father helped build part of this car.

In 1985 and 1986, Mark raced in the NSW Ford Laser Series. He finished second both years. He also won the Victorian Series in 1986. Mark was supposed to race at Bathurst in 1986. However, his co-driver crashed their Toyota Celica Supra. This meant they could not race.

In 1987, Mark won the Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship. He drove a Nissan Gazelle. He also finished 19th in his first Bathurst 1000 race that year.

Racing with Nissan

In 1988, Mark raced in some touring car events for Nissan. He drove a Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R. He had some tough luck, not finishing two big races. In 1989, Mark joined the Gibson Nissan team full-time. He finished third in the Bathurst 1000 with Jim Richards.

From 1991 to 1993, Mark won three Australian Drivers Championships. He earned three CAMS Gold Stars. He drove a Spa 003 and later a Lola T91/50.

Australian Touring Car Championship (1990–2001)

Skaife at the 1992 Oran Park ATCC round

In 1990, Mark became a full-time driver for the Nissan team. He switched from the HR31 to the R32 GT-R model Skyline. In 1991, he won three rounds of the ATCC. He also won his first Bathurst 1000 with Jim Richards. This was a big win for a Japanese car.

In 1992, Mark won four ATCC rounds. This led him to win the championship. He also won his second Bathurst 1000 with the GT-R R32. The race was stopped early because of heavy rain.

In 1993, his team switched to the Holden Commodore VP. Mark finished sixth in the ATCC. He came second at Bathurst with Jim Richards. They had a close race with the winners.

In 1994, Mark won four rounds. He won the first three races in a row. This helped him win his second ATCC title. He finished second in the Sandown 500.

In 1995, Mark missed the first ATCC round after a big crash. He still finished sixth overall. He led the Bathurst 1000 but had mechanical problems.

In 1997, Mark drove for the Mobil Holden Racing Team. He raced with Peter Brock in the Sandown 500. He got pole position at Bathurst but had to stop racing while leading.

In 1998, Mark joined HRT full-time. He finished third in the ATCC. He teamed with Craig Lowndes at Sandown and finished second.

In 1999, Mark won six rounds of the Shell Championship Series. This was more than any other driver. He finished third in the championship. He came third at Bathurst with Paul Morris.

In 2000, Mark won four rounds. He won the Clipsal 500 Adelaide and Queensland 500. This helped him win the Shell Championship Series title. He secured the championship at Bathurst.

In 2001, Mark won four rounds. He won the Bathurst 1000 with Tony Longhurst. He won the Shell Championship Series title again. He secured the title in New Zealand.

V8 Supercars Championship Series (2002–2008)

Skaife at the 2008 Ipswich 400

In 2002, Mark had a great year. He won the V8 Supercars Championship Series. He won seven of the 13 rounds. This included the first five races in a row. He also won his fourth Bathurst 1000 with Jim Richards. He won the Clipsal 500 again.

In 2003, Mark won the Clipsal 500 and Sandown 500. He finished third in the championship. Mark became the new owner of the Holden Racing Team.

In 2005, Mark won his fifth Bathurst 1000 title. He teamed with Todd Kelly. He finished fifth in the V8 Supercars Championship Series.

In 2006, Mark won seven races. However, he finished 16th overall due to other issues. He crashed out of the Bathurst 1000 on the first lap.

In 2007, Mark finished eighth in the V8 Supercars Championship Series. He won one round. He missed a race due to surgery. He crashed out of the Bathurst 1000 near the end.

In 2008, Mark won the L&H 500 with Garth Tander. He finished 12th in the Bathurst 1000. He announced that 2008 would be his last year as a full-time driver.

Endurance Races (2009–2011)

After stopping full-time racing, Mark continued to compete in endurance races. He raced in 2009, 2010, and 2011. This was very successful for him.

In 2010, Mark joined TeamVodafone. He won the Phillip Island 500 and the Bathurst 1000 with Craig Lowndes. This was his sixth Bathurst victory.

In 2011, Mark continued as an endurance-only driver. He won his second Phillip Island 500 with Lowndes. They finished second in the Bathurst 1000. Mark then announced he would stop endurance racing. He took on a new role as chairman of the V8 Supercars Commission.

Mark Skaife ended his driving career with 482 race starts. He had 90 race wins, 42 event wins, and 41 pole positions. He also won 5 drivers' championships.

Media Career

Skaife at the launch of the Sydney 500 in 2009

After retiring from full-time driving, Mark joined the Seven Network. He became a co-commentator for the V8 Supercars series. He worked with Neil Crompton and Matthew White. In 2015, he joined Fox Sports. He became a presenter and co-hosted their show Inside Supercars. From 2016, Mark returned to commentating while also presenting.

Mark Skaife has written four books: