BRDC CELEBRATES THE BEST OF BRITISH MOTOR SPORT AT THE 2018 ANNUAL AWARDS

Over 370 guests assembled in London to celebrate the successes of BRDC Members, SuperStars and Rising Stars on Monday 3 December.

Reflecting on a year in which 31 Members of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) and BRDC Young Drivers have won championships, including three FIA World Championships, there was plenty to celebrate at the BRDC Annual Awards Lunch which was hosted and compered by Jake Humphrey at the London Marriott on Grosvenor Square.  The ceremony was well attended by the great and good of British Motor Racing, including BRDC President Paddy Hopkirk MBE, David Coulthard MBE, Derek Warwick and Dario Franchitti MBE.  The prestigious event attracted a wide range of other distinguished guests such as Chief Executive of the Formula One Group Chase Carey, who presented trophies during the ceremony.  As well as celebrating the many on-track success stories throughout the Club, the event also gave its many guests an opportunity to support the BRDC Motor Sport Charity.  Thanks to the generosity of the Members and guests in attendance, £4,000 was raised which will go towards providing assistance to people in the motor sport industry during times of need.

Of the many great moments of the afternoon, there were a number of heart-warming highlights that included the appearance of Nic Hamilton, accepting the Graham Hill Trophy, BRDC Gold Star and Special BRDC Gold Star on behalf of his brother Lewis Hamilton MBE.  Nic’s visit to the stage followed a personal video message sent by the five times Formula One Drivers’ World Champion, which introduced his brother as a source of inspiration for him, referring to his determination to overcome his own struggles as he pursues his own racing career.  Applause was given to the announcement of his plans to compete in the British Touring Car Championship in 2019, which leads on from his recent Renault UK Clio Cup experience and the British Touring Car Championship races in which he participated in 2015.

Another uplifting moment was when BRDC Rising Star Billy Monger went up to the stage to receive the Innes Ireland Trophy, having best displayed the qualities of courage and sportsmanship epitomised by the late former President of the BRDC, Innes Ireland.  Billy shared reflections on his life changing accident at Donington Park in 2017 and triumphant return to racing 12 months later, finishing on the podium during the season opening race of the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship at Oulton Park.  He was described by award presenter, Chase Carey, as one of motor sport’s true heroes, a view that was unanimously endorsed by the applause of everybody in the room.

With several success stories being told about drivers from the Club’s Young Driver schemes, it was an opportunity to hear from BRDC SuperStars Director, Tim Harvey.  While reflecting on the immense proud that he feels to have given guidance to all drivers that have been BRDC SuperStars’ over the 11 years of scheme’s running, this also came with the announcement that Tim would be stepping down as the BRDC SuperStars Director, and that he would be succeeded by former BRDC SuperStar, Andy Meyrick.  For more information, please click here to view the press release of this announcement.

To conclude the afternoon, Alexander Albon, Lando Norris (absent) and George Russell were presented with the BRDC President’s Award for their truly outstanding achievement in securing Formula One drives for the 2019 season with Red Bull Toro Rosso, McLaren Racing Formula One Team and Williams Martini Racing respectively.  Both Alex, a former BRDC SuperStar, and George, a current BRDC SuperStar, spoke highly of the support they had received by the BRDC and that they would be looking forward to making the most of their incredible opportunities to race in the top flight of single-seater racing.

The BRDC would like to extend its thanks to the following organisations for their generous support of the event:

Headline Sponsor
BMW

Champagne Reception Sponsor
EFG Private Bank

Table Wine Sponsor
AC Entertainment Technologies Ltd

BRDC Young Driver Patrons
AC Entertainment Technologies Ltd, EFG Private Bank, Immun’Age, Integro, Sloane Helicopters and Zurich

Table Sponsors
Certas Energy/Gulf, Duo Group Holdings, Motor Passion and Sloane Helicopters

The full list of 2018 BRDC Annual Awards winners is:

The Jim Clark Trophy – Linus Lundqvist
For the winner of the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship

The Johnny Wakefield Trophy – Sebastian Vettel
For the fastest lap of the season at Silverstone Grand Prix circuit

The John Cooper Trophy – Mick Schumacher
For a GP3 or FIA European Formula 3 driver with the potential to become a future World Champion

The Sir Jackie Stewart Award – James Allison
For a motorsport engineer who has shown brilliance during the course of the season

The Richard Seaman Trophy – George Russell
For the highest-placed BRDC Member in the Gold Star points competition outside of Formula One

The Colin Chapman Trophy – Allan McNish
A special BRDC award to an individual displaying great team sprit be it a driver, team owner or engineer

The Spencer Charrington Trophy – Dan Ticktum
For the highest-placed British driver in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship

The Henry Surtees Award – Max Fewtrell
For the most outstanding performance by a BRDC Rising Star

The Innes Ireland Trophy – Billy Monger
For the driver best displaying qualities of courage and sportsmanship epitomised by the late Innes Ireland

The Earl Howe Trophy – Richard Westbrook
For the British driver delivering the most meritorious performance of the year in North America

The John Cobb Memorial Trophy – Jonny Adam and Flick Haigh
For a success of outstanding character achieved by a British driver, in a British car

The ERA Club Trophy – Graham Davidson
For the British drivers, driving a British car, establishing the most meritorious performance in the year outside of the UK

The Nigel Moores Trophy – Rebellion Racing
For the most meritorious performance in international motor racing by a private entrant

The Silverstone–Le Mans Challenge – Mathias Beche, Thomas Laurent and Gustavo Menezes
For the driver or team achieving the highest combined finishing record of the Silverstone LMS race and the Le Mans 24 Hour race

The Woolf Barnato Trophy – Darren Turner
To the highest placed British driver or team, in a British car, in the Le Mans 24 Hour race

The ACO Plate – Mike Conway
On behalf of the Automobile Club De L’Ouest to the highest placed British driver at the Le Mans 24 Hour race

BRDC Silver Star – Dino Zamparelli
For the strongest performance of the year by a Member in domestic championships (Points accumulation)

BRDC Gold Star – Lewis Hamilton MBE
For the strongest performance of the year by a Member in international championships (Points accumulation)

Special BRDC Gold Star – Lewis Hamilton MBE
BRDC Member winning the FIA Formula One Drivers’ World Championship

The Graham Hill Trophy – Lewis Hamilton MBE
For the most meritorious performance by a British driver in single seater racing

The Fairfield Trophy – Gary Paffett
For an outstanding performance by a BRDC Member

The Chris Bristow Trophy – Tom Gamble
For the winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award

BRDC President’s Award – Alexander Albon, Lando Norris and George Russell
In recognition of securing a drive in the Formula One World Championship in 2019

The Bruce McLaren Trophy – Will Power
For the Commonwealth driver establishing the most meritorious performances in international motor racing

Photography credit: Jakob Ebrey Photograpy