Ben Edwards, lead commentator for the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Formula One television coverage, takes over as the latest Online Instructor on SAFEisFAST. Edwards has been involved in virtually every aspect of the sport during the past 25 years. Having started out working as a mechanic in his teenage years, Edwards began campaigning a Pre-‘74 Formula Ford 1600 car in the mid-1980s. He went on to win the inaugural Formula First Championship in his native England, then showed promise in Formula Vauxhall/Lotus where he competed alongside future stars such as David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen and Allan McNish.
Veteran F1 lead commentator Ben Edwards brings a wide background to SAFEisFAST.
Like so many talented youngsters, Edwards lacked the financial flexibility to continue to move up the ladder. Instead, while earning a living by instructing at a race car drivers’ school in the UK, he was invited to try his hand at circuit commentary. He was a natural. Before long, Edwards had turned his hobby into a career, springing to prominence with the Eurosport TV network, broadcasting coverage of Formula One alongside former Grand Prix winner John Watson.
![John Watson (left) is but one of Edwards' several noted broadcast partners. [Sutton Images]](https://s7757.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/400-130619benedwards-with-watson.jpg)
John Watson (left) is but one of Edwards’ several noted broadcast partners. [Sutton Images]
In the mid-1990s, when Eurosport lost its F1 contract, Edwards found a new niche with his enthusiastic world-feed commentary during the heyday of CART and the Champ Car World Series. He later resumed his focus on European racing, covering a diverse range of series including the British Touring Car Championship, A1 GP, Superleague Formula and the FIA GT1 World Championship before being selected to lead the BBC’s announce team when the broadcasting giant gained a new contract for F1 coverage in 2012.
Like many a top motorsports commentator, Edwards brings plenty of quality seat time to the booth.
“After seeing the caliber of those who have contributed to SAFEisFAST.com in the past, it is a tremendous honor to be asked to be the next Online Instructor,” said Edwards. “Achieving success in this sport is all about experience, and I have been fortunate enough to gain experience in a wide variety of championships, so I’m looking forward to being able to pass along some of the tips I have learned.”