Former IndyCar team owner Steve Horne has been appointed chairman of the V8 Supercars Commission.

The New Zealander will replace Australian motoring great Mark Skaife, who moves into a business development role with V8 Supercars and as an advisor to the board after his two-year tenure.

Horne will be joined by Neil Crompton, voted in to fill the independent commissioner position being vacated by Chris Lambden.

“Steve is the ideal successor to Mark who has taken the commission through its first two years with great passion, success and professionalism,” V8 Supercars chief executive James Warburton said on Friday.

“The role of commission chairman needs to be an independent, strong and robust leader. They need to effectively manage the commission and its process, make the tough decisions, broker compromise where required and be a good communicator. Steve has all of these traits.”

Horne spent over 25 years in IndyCar racing as a mechanic and team manager, racking up 95 race wins and 14 championships in the United States.

He led the Truesports team to two IndyCar titles – in 1986 and 1987 – before establishing his own team Tasman Motorsports Group.

The team dominated US open wheel racing, claiming four championships in just six years, and still holds the record for most wins in Indy Lights history.

Most recently, Tasman competed in New Zealand’s V8 SuperTourers championship.

Crompton, a former driver and now commentator on Channel Seven, briefly drove for Horne in the US.

“I have met very few people with such an extensive understanding of the industry combined with an amazing passion,” Warburton said.

The term of the chairman and independent commissioner is two years.