Oulton Park’s round of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend marks the end of one of the great careers in British sports broadcasting, with Steve Rider hanging up his microphone following one final weekend at the helm of the series’ coverage on ITV.

Rider’s career spans more than 45 years, beginning with the broadcast organisation with which he’s working for the final time on Sunday. During that time, he’s established himself as a household name to multiple generations of sports fan, reporting to viewers at home from football tournaments, rugby matches and the Olympic Games. For many however, motor racing is the sport with which Rider is most closely associated.

A switch to the BBC in the mid-80s raised Rider’s profile as he eventually became the lead presenter of the flagship Grandstand programme as well as the annual Sports Personality of the Year show. And throughout this time in the limelight, Rider proactively championed motorsport at a variety of levels, taking on a key role in national TV coverage of the BTCC as well as single-seater racing and rallying.

Following a lengthy stint with the national broadcaster, Rider rejoined ITV as one of its star sports anchors and to lead its live F1 coverage. The return to ITV also opened the door to Rider fronting the BTCC’s live race day coverage, a role he’s carried out since 2009 until his retirement at Oulton Park.

During his time with the BBC, Rider was colleagues for a number of years with current MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer, who was F1 co-commentator alongside Murray Walker from 1993 until 1996.

Reflecting on the end of one of motorsport broadcasting’s great careers, Palmer said: “Over four decades Steve Rider has established himself as a legend of sports broadcasting. His polished and informative approach has always left viewers in no doubt that they’re in a safe pair of hands, whatever sport he was covering. But it’s in the world of motor racing that he’s most respected and revered, and rightly so.

“Steve is a consummate professional and a superb broadcaster, but he’s a real enthusiast for our industry. And it can’t be overstated how important his passion for our sport was in ensuring that national motorsport, including the BTCC, found a permanent place as part of the national television landscape.

“I and many others will miss seeing Steve regularly in the paddock, but I don’t think any of us could begrudge him what will be a very well-earned retirement!”