Mark Larkham has been announced the winner of this year’s Supercars Media Award.

The former team owner and driver has established himself as a highly popular broadcaster, beginning at Seven in 2008 before stints with Network 10 and then Supercars’ in-house television team which is nowadays beamed across Fox Sports and Seven.

It is the first time that Larkham has picked up the gong, and comes three years after he was controversially axed from the telecast, only to be reinstated after a fan backlash.

He was somewhat taken aback when presented with the award on live television.

“I’m flattered, I’m humbled, I’m honoured… this is a team of people,” said Larkham.

“This is very cool… if I put my hand on my heart, this one’s for the fans, because they had my back a little while back.

“It gives me great personal joy and pleasure to know that they enjoy what we do.”

The Bathurst 1000 pole-sitter is the 22nd different winner of the Supercars Media Award since its inception in 1999.

Supercars Media Award winners

1999 – Network Ten
2000 – Michael Lynch
2001 – Paul Gover
2002 – V8X Magazine
2003 – Ray Kershler
2004 – Guy Hand
2005 – Bruce Newton
2006 – Gordon Lomas
2007 – Stephen Ottley
2008 – Jon Evans
2009 – James Phelps
2010 – Mark Horsburgh
2011 – Ray Berghouse
2012 – James Phelps
2013 – The Daily and Sunday Telegraph
2014 – Mark Fogarty
2015 – James Phelps
2016 – Jessica Yates
2017 – Connor O’Brien
2018 – Ian O’Brien
2019 – Tom Howard
2021 – Rich Walter
2022 – Chad Neylon
2023 – Mark Larkham