Mark Skaife inducted into Hall of Fame

Five-time V8 Supercars/Australian Touring Cars Championship winner and pit lane personality Mark Skaife was tonight added to the Hall of Fame at the V8 Supercars Gala Awards Dinner in Sydney.

Forty-seven year old Skaife joins the greats of the sport -including last year's inductee the late Jason Richards, Glenn Seton, John Bowe and Jim Richards - with the honour.

With 220 event starts to his name, 90 race wins (second to Craig Lowndes), 88 podiums and six Bathurst 1000 wins -the most recent in 2010 -Skaifestarted with Gibson Motorsport in 1987 amd went on to win first Bathurst in 1991.

Now retired from racing, Skaife has continued to remain entrenched in the sport, having been the founding V8 Supercars Commission Chairman, creating the new generation/car of the future model, and assisting with track design at street circuits such as Sydney Olympic Park and Townsville.

Most recently Skaife is known for his role as a TV commentator for Channel Seven, providing expert analysis for viewers -however his most illustrious period was racing for the Holden Racing Team in the early 2000s where he earned 15 race wins in one season (equal second with Whincup and Garth Tander, one less than Lowndes), three consecutive Championship titles and three Bathurst 1000s.

Surpassed only by Whincup on the weekend, Skaife sits equal with Dick Johnson and Ian Geoghegan on the tally of titles, and is one of the most recognisable personalities associated with V8 Supercars.