Leigh Diffey
Encyclopedia
Leigh Diffey is an Australian auto racing
commentator with the Speed Channel in the United States
. He has also worked in Britain and in his homeland of Australia
, where he commentated on Champ Car
and V8 Supercars for Network Ten
in Australia. Nicknamed, "Stiffey" by fans and fellow commentators.
, Diffey commented on the Superbike World Championship
and presented coverage of the World Rally Championship
for the BBC
in the United Kingdom
. He worked alongside Steve Parrish
who along with Diffey, shared a mutual friend - the late Barry Sheene
. Sheene was instrumental in joining Diffey and the BBC together.
series for ESPN International alongside Ben Edwards
at the Rockingham Motor Speedway
(United Kingdom) and the Lausitzring
(Germany).
In 2003, Diffey was hired by Speed. At Speed, Diffey was the play-by-play announcer for the network's coverage of the Speed World Challenge
, the American Le Mans Series
, the Rolex Sports Car Series
, the Rolex Grand-Am Cup
, the SCCA Trans-Am Series
, and an occasional The Speed Report
anchor and Formula One
host. He also did occasional lap-by-lap coverage of the NASCAR
Busch North Series.
In 2008, Diffey filled in for Speed commentator Bob Varsha
during the Formula One
Chinese Grand Prix. Varsha was unable to assume his usual role due to his covering the Barrett-Jackson
Collector Car Auction in Las Vegas, NV. Diffey also did 2 Formula One
races on FOX in 2010.
Diffey also filled in for Ralph Sheheen
for the 2008 AMA Motocross Championship.
Diffey, Bob Varsha and Krista Voda are now the mainstays of The Speed Report - the network's popular Sunday evening wrap of the week's news and results. Leigh has also commentated selected rounds of the AMA Superbike and AMA Motocross Championships.
. Diffey was a regular host for Network Ten
's nightly sports wrap, Sports Tonight
. His last Sports Tonight broadcast was Sunday 3rd, December 2006. He announced that he was returning to the United States, where he rejoined Speed starting with the 2007 Rolex 24 Hour race at Daytona
.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
commentator with the Speed Channel in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He has also worked in Britain and in his homeland of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he commentated on Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
and V8 Supercars for Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
in Australia. Nicknamed, "Stiffey" by fans and fellow commentators.
Pre-Television
Prior to his commentary and TV career, Leigh was a primary school teacher at Ipswich Grammar School, leaving in 1995/6 to pursue his love of Motorsports and Television.BBC career
Prior to his 2002 move to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Diffey commented on the Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
and presented coverage of the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He worked alongside Steve Parrish
Steve Parrish
Steve Parrish is a former motorcycle and truck racer, who now commentates for various British television channels on motorsport.-Racing career:...
who along with Diffey, shared a mutual friend - the late Barry Sheene
Barry Sheene
Barry Stephen Frank Sheene MBE was a British World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.-Early life:...
. Sheene was instrumental in joining Diffey and the BBC together.
Speed career
In 2001 Diffey filled in for Jeremy Shaw covering the Champ CarChamp Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
series for ESPN International alongside Ben Edwards
Ben Edwards
Ben Edwards is a British motor racing commentator. At the moment, he is the voice of Superleague Formula and the British Touring Car Championship, in addition to Formula One DVD Reviews for Duke Video. In the past, he has worked for Eurosport, ESPN, and F1 Digital +...
at the Rockingham Motor Speedway
Rockingham Motor Speedway
Rockingham is the UK's most modern motorsport venue and Europe's fastest racing circuit, hosting corporate driving days, driver training, conferencing & exhibitions, vehicle manufacturing events, track days, testing, driving experiences and motorsport...
(United Kingdom) and the Lausitzring
EuroSpeedway Lausitz
The EuroSpeedway Lausitz is a race track located near Klettwitz in the state of Brandenburg in Eastern Germany, near the borders of Poland and the Czech Republic...
(Germany).
In 2003, Diffey was hired by Speed. At Speed, Diffey was the play-by-play announcer for the network's coverage of the Speed World Challenge
SPEED World Challenge
The Pirelli World Challenge is a North American auto racing series that is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America . Founded in 1985, it consists of four classes: grand touring, touring car, a "GTS" class since 2010, and a "touring car B-spec" since 2012...
, the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
, the Rolex Sports Car Series
Rolex Sports Car Series
The Rolex Sports Car Series is the premier series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. It is a North American-based sports car series that was founded in 2000 under the name Grand American Road Racing Championship to replace the failed United States Road Racing Championship...
, the Rolex Grand-Am Cup
KONI Challenge Series
The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge is a racing series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. Originating from the Canadian Motorola Cup, the series was taken over by Grand-Am in 2001 to become the Grand-Am Cup following the demise of rival IMSA's Firehawk series of similar rules...
, the SCCA Trans-Am Series
Trans-Am Series
The Trans-Am Series is an automobile racing series which was created in 1966 by Sports Car Club of America President John Bishop. Originally known as the Trans-American Sedan Championship it has evolved over time from its original format as a manufacturers championship for modified racing sedans...
, and an occasional The Speed Report
The Speed Report
SPEED Center is Speed Channel's news show that debuted on February 13, 2011, replacing The SPEED Report. Airing on Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM EST, it has rotating anchors though its most noted are Leigh Diffey, Adam Alexander, Bob Varsha, and Krista Voda.SPEED Center and its predecessors have been...
anchor and Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
host. He also did occasional lap-by-lap coverage of the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch North Series.
In 2008, Diffey filled in for Speed commentator Bob Varsha
Bob Varsha
Bob Varsha is one of the on-air personalities for Speed Channel. Varsha is presently the host of the network's live Formula One coverage. In 2002 and 2003, Varsha was the host of SPEED's Champ Car coverage. Rick DeBruhl took over Varsha's Formula One host chair for that period. In 2004, Varsha...
during the Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Chinese Grand Prix. Varsha was unable to assume his usual role due to his covering the Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction provides products and services to classic and collector car owners, collectors and automotive enthusiasts...
Collector Car Auction in Las Vegas, NV. Diffey also did 2 Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
races on FOX in 2010.
Diffey also filled in for Ralph Sheheen
Ralph Sheheen
Ralph Sheheen is currently a pit reporter for NASCAR on TNT, an announcer for AMA supercross and superbike racing on the Speed Channel, and is the lead commentator of CBS Sports' coverage of the AMA....
for the 2008 AMA Motocross Championship.
Diffey, Bob Varsha and Krista Voda are now the mainstays of The Speed Report - the network's popular Sunday evening wrap of the week's news and results. Leigh has also commentated selected rounds of the AMA Superbike and AMA Motocross Championships.
Network Ten career
At the end of 2004, Diffey left the network for family reasons. He returned to his native Australia, where he covered V8 Supercars and Formula One for Network Ten. He did, though, return to Speed on occasion to call the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
. Diffey was a regular host for Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
's nightly sports wrap, Sports Tonight
Sports Tonight
Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten . The program was broadcast on Weeknights at 10.30 pm; at 11.00pm , Fridays at 12.00am , and on Sunday from 7:30pm AEDT Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten (and on...
. His last Sports Tonight broadcast was Sunday 3rd, December 2006. He announced that he was returning to the United States, where he rejoined Speed starting with the 2007 Rolex 24 Hour race at Daytona
Daytona
Daytona may refer to:* Daytona Beach, Florida* Daytona Beach Shores, Florida* South Daytona, Florida-Motor racing:* Daytona Beach Road Course* Daytona International Speedway, a NASCAR speedway, which hosts:** the Daytona 500 NASCAR race...
.