THE door looks to have been pushed even wider open for former Supercars pit lane reporter Riana Crehan to make a return to the TV coverage of this year’s Repco Supercars Championship – and a decision by another motorsport series to move to Stan Sport may have accelerated the possibility.
Crehan posted on social media last week that she would be returning this year to host the Australian Superbike Championship and Australian ProMX Championship for Motorcycling Australia.
Those series were last year shown on SBS and FOX Sports and were expected to again be telecast on those platforms this year, however it was today announced they are the latest addition to Stan Sports’ offering of motorsport on its streaming platform.
That means they’ll join the ARG-run SpeedSeries, IndyCar, World Endurance Championship and World Rally Championship on Stan Sport this year.
PODCAST: Riana Crehan opens up on her most difficult year to date
Crehan’s much-publicised appearance on ‘SAS Australia’ begins airing on Channel 7 next week (Monday February 21), meaning her commitments to the show and network will overlap with the last-minute motorcycle coverage deal with Stan given the opening round of the ASBK will be at Phillip Island next weekend.
It’s understood Crehan’s existing SAS contractual commitments (the series was filmed last November) and the clash with Nine-owned Stan mean she will be unable to follow through on her intent to again be part of the two-wheeled coverage.
However, recent media reports have linked Crehan with a return to Supercars broadcasts, specifically with Channel 7’s coverage of six marquee events.
Such a move could make her an instant replacement for Molly Taylor, who has signed to appear on the SpeedSeries’ coverage on Stan this year having appeared on Channel 7’s Supercars broadcasts last year.
There’s also the possibility Crehan could return to Supercars Media in a full-time role at all 13 Repco Supercars Championship rounds telecast on FOX Sports and Channel 7. The organisation is yet to confirm its full line-up of talent and roles for the 2022 season.
Crehan departed the Supercars broadcast team at the completion of the 2020 championship.
Crehan’s management were sought for comment by V8 Sleuth this afternoon, but they declined to comment on the Supercars/Seven speculation.
They did, however, confirm Crehan won’t be part of Stan’s motorcycle coverage.
