Broadcast talent confirmed for <I>F1 Digital+</I>.

F1 Digital + has confirmed its line-up of broadcasters for the first live interactive Grand Prix coverage.

The broadcast team offers a wealth of television and motorsport experience with:

* Matthew Lorenzo - Presenter,
* John Watson - Commentator,
* Ben Edwards - Studio Analyst,
* Perry McCarthy - Studio Analyst,
and * Peter Windsor - Trackside Reporter.

The F1 Digital + coverage will be broadcast on Sky digital channel 434 with eight different views on the race available through the interactive service, launched by pushing the red button on the Sky Digital handset.

The presenters and commentators will provide the insight required for F1 fanatics to not only enjoy live coverage of Practice, Qualifying and the Race but also to fully appreciate the range of interactive views and understand the wealth of viewing options.

Announcing the line-up, producer Charles Balchin said: "There's a good mix of talents in this team; F1 driving experience from both ends of the grid; an inside track on the F1 teams; access to the heart of the F1 operation, a depth of motorsport knowledge; and years of broadcasting experience. This line-up will not only explain how the interactive works but provide insights into how F1 works on each of the distinct days of the Grand Prix weekend."

F1 Digital + - the lowdown on the talent:

Matthew Lorenzo will be the F1 Digital + presenter. He is one of television's most experienced sports anchors and has an understanding of digital interactive TV through his work at Sky. He has also been F1 correspondent for Sky News and Eurosport and a producer and presenter for the official F1 season review.

Lorenzo said: "Being a passionate F1 fan, I'm thrilled to be part of this. Anything can happen in those 18 live hours each GP weekend and I'll have to help the viewers to decide where to go. The adrenaline will be flowing in the studio as well as on the track and we aim to get it pumping at home too - the fact that our viewers will be able to get so close to the action should clinch it."

John Watson will be main commentator for interactive F1; the voice of the 'Super Track'. One of the nation's most successful F1 drivers, with a decade's F1 experience at Brabham, Penske and McLaren. Competing against legends such as James Hunt, Alain Prost, Nikki Lauda, and Nigel Mansell between 1974 and 1983 he was winner of five GPs, including the 1981 British GP at Silverstone.

Now an accomplished broadcaster, with credits for Eurosport, BBC, ESPN, Fox Sports, CBC and Channel 9, Watson says: "I'm there to use my experience, knowledge and passion for racing to give viewers an understanding beyond the pictures. I want the audience to know what's going on in the minds of the drivers and the team personnel. The interactive set-up will provide a fantastic insight for F1 fanatics."

Peter Windsor will report live from the pits and paddock at each GP weekend. He was Williams Team Manager for the '92 Constructors Championship-winning team and has held senior positions with Ferrari. An award winning F1 writer at the Sunday Times and an experienced broadcaster with the Speed Channel and Fox Sports he is in prime position to give viewers an insight into team tactics during practice, qualifying and the race.

Peter Windor says: "It's been frustrating for those of us in F1 who are familiar with the digital coverage elsewhere in Europe not being able to watch it in the UK. The interactivity on Sky digital is incredible - quicker, easier to understand, simple to use - and F1 lends itself to this service better than any sport."

Ben Edwards formed an acclaimed F1 commentary partnership with John Watson for Eurosport and has a wealth of motorsport experience on F1, touring cars, rally, CART, Formula 3, British GT and speedway. For Sky he will be a studio analyst.

Edwards says; "The F1 Digital + studio is pivotal to the interactive coverage and a great place to be; we have an overview of the whole day's action and can steer viewers to wherever the real action is taking place - this is going to be a terrific service."

Perry McCarthy spent the '92 season in F1 with Andrea Moda before testing with Williams, Bennetton and Footwork [Arrows]. He won the Formula Ford British Championship in 1983 during a motor racing career that spanned Formula Ford, Formula 3 and Formula 3000. Now an accomplished broadcaster, who knows motorsports inside out, Perry will be a studio analyst for Sky's F1 Digital +.

He says: "F1 Digital + marries the wealth of facilities and unrivalled access that F1 can grant with the technology that only Sky digital can offer. There is nowhere else in F1 you could see, hear and almost smell as much as we can."