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Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham is to join Radio 5 Live's Formula 1 commentary team as a pit lane reporter it was announced today.

Natalie has wide experience in sports presentation including on the TT races, Masters tennis and athletics. Natalie presented the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival for ITV, and she has also reported for David Beckham's Soccer USA for the Fox Soccer Channel in the US, with reports for Five in the UK.

Natalie will join Radio 5 Live for the start of the F1 season in March, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 11 March, where she will take her place alongside commentator David Croft and F1 driver Anthony Davidson for the 20 Grand Prix races across 19 countries.

Natalie Pinkham said: "I love all sports – and I am massive fan of 5 Live, I can't wait to get fully involved and immersed in the F1 season and am hugely looking forward to getting face to face with the teams – and making my mark with them – I am ready to go."

Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will have live commentary across the whole of the F1 season including practice, qualifying and the Grand Prix races themselves. There will also be in-depth analysis and preview shows before each race and all the latest developments from across the circuit in 5 Live Sport throughout the season. After each race you can download the chequered flag podcast from the . The F1 coverage is produced by USP content for Radio 5 Live.

Notes to Editors

The Grand Prix races in the F1 2011 calendar are as follows. Radio 5 live and Radio 5 live Sports Extra will also have coverage of practice and race qualifying.

March 13 – Bahrain Grand Prix Sakhir
March 27 – Australian Grand Prix Albert Park
April 10 – Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang
April 17 – Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai
May 8 – Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul
May 22 – Spanish Grand Prix Catalunya
May 29 – Monaco Grand Prix Monte Carlo
June 12 – Canadian Grand Prix Montreal
June 26 – European Grand Prix Valencia
July 10 – British Grand Prix Silverstone
July 24 – German Grand Prix Nürburgring
July 31 – Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring
August 28 – Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps
September 11 – Italian Grand Prix Monza
September 25 – Singapore Grand Prix Marina Bay
October 9 – Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka
October 16 – Korean Grand Prix Yeongam
October 30 – Indian Grand Prix New Delhi
November 13 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Yas Marina
November 27 – Brazilian Grand Prix Interlagos

This announcement completes the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s line-up for Formula 1 in 2011. Earlier this week it was announced that Martin Brundle is to lead the commentary on television, with David Coultard as co-commentator. Eddie Jordan returns as primary analyst, and David Coulthard will continue his role as analyst alongside his new commentary duties. Completing the TV line-up for 2011, Jake Humphrey will anchor the coverage for his third season with Lee McKenzie and Ted Kravitz once again in place as reporters. The 2011 season will be shown on TV for the first time in HD.

AB