THE BEST OF BRITISH MOTOR SPORT CELEBRATED AT THE 2022 BRDC ANNUAL AWARDS

Around 320 guests assembled in London to celebrate the successes of BRDC Members, SuperStars and Rising Stars on Monday 5 December.

Reflecting on a year in which 39 different championships have been won by Members of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) and BRDC Young Drivers, there was plenty to celebrate at the BRDC Annual Awards Lunch which was hosted and compered by Jake Humphrey and BRDC Member Paul O’Neill at the London Marriott on Grosvenor Square.  The ceremony was well attended by the great and good of British Motor Racing, including BRDC President David Coulthard MBE and Vice Presidents Martin Brundle, Derek Warwick, Howden Ganley and John Grant.  The prestigious event attracted a wide range of other distinguished guests such as BRDC President in Chief, HRH The Duke of Kent K.G., and President of the Automobile Club De L’Ouest, Pierre Fillon.

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, just over £4,700 was raised which will go towards providing assistance to people in the motor sport industry during times of need.

The ceremony began with a short speech from the BRDC’s President before the introduction of the first segment of awards, which included the Special Achievement Award presented to Jason Plato in recognition of what he has achieved during his exceptional career in the British Touring Car Championship.  Plato then returned to the stage later in the afternoon to present 2022 BTCC Champion Tom Ingram with the BRDC Silver Star, an award which Plato himself had previously won on eight occasions.

Another uplifting moment was when Canadian racing driver Robert Wickens was announced as the winner of the Innes Ireland Trophy, having best displayed the qualities of courage and sportsmanship epitomised by the late former President of the BRDC, Innes Ireland.  Shortly after the room leaned that Wickens was this year’s winner, an inspirational video was played which showed the rehabilitation journey which has allowed him to be a full season entrant in the TCR class of this year's IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, with noteable success.

Many of the afternoon’s award winners had previously been involved in the BRDC's Young Driver Programme, and it was an opportunity to also hear from some of the Club’s current cohort of SuperStars.  British Touring Car Championship race winner Jake Hill, Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux Champion and Porsche Mobil1 Supercup podium finisher Harry King and FIA Formula 3 Championship podium finisher Zak O’Sullivan all participated in table-side interviews with Paul O’Neill, with the latter also sharing memories of his prize Formula One Test Drive as part of winning the 2021 Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award (AMABA).  Following in O’Sullivan’s footsteps next October will be Luke Browning, who was introduced to the stage as this year's AMABA winner, which was announced at the Autosport Awards ceremony the previous evening.  In addition to a Formula One test driver with Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team, the 20-year-old from Cheshire also received a cheque for £200,000, the Chris Bristow Trophy and Full Membership of the BRDC.

A highlight of the ceremony was when we were joined by recent Grand Prix race winner George Russell, who reflected on the journey that he has had in motor racing since he was announced as a Young Driver of the Year Award winner himself in 2014.  The Mercedes driver finished fourth in this year’s Formula One Drivers’ World Championship standings and, while collecting the Graham Hill Trophy for the most meritorious performance of the year by a British driver in single-seater racing, offered his memories of an incredible weekend in Sao Paulo in mid-November when he was victorious for the first time in Formula One.

To conclude the afternoon, Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE was announced as the winner of the Johnny Wakefield Trophy and the BRDC Gold Star.  The seven times Formula One Drivers’ World Champion was unable to attend the ceremony but did send a personal video message acknowledging these highly coveted awards. David Coulthard then presented the BRDC President’s Award to David Richards CBE in recognition of his service to, and leadership of, the BRDC Motor Sport Charity as Chairman of Trustees, a role from which he has recently stepped down.

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

Headline Sponsor
BMW

Table Wine Sponsor
AC Entertainment Technologies Ltd

BRDC Young Driver Patrons
AC Entertainment Technologies Ltd, Immun’Âge, Sloane Helicopters, Tysers and Zurich Insurance

The full list of 2022 BRDC Annual Awards winners is:

The Sir Jackie Steward Award – Pierre Waché
For a motor sport engineer who has shown brilliance during the course of the season

The Special Achievement Award – Jason Plato
In recognition of his outstanding career in the British Touring Car Championship

The Henry Surtees Award – Louis Foster
For the most outstanding performance by a BRDC Rising Star

The Jim Clark Trophy – Luke Browning
For the winner of the GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC

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

The Woolf Barnato Trophy – David Pittard
Awarded to the highest-placed British and/or Commonwealth driver, in a British car, in the Le Mans 24-Hour Race, classified as a finisher

The BRDC Special Gold Star – Brendon Hartley
BRDC Member winning the FIA Hypercar Drivers’ World Championship

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

The John Cobb Memorial Trophy – Ross Gunn
For a success of outstanding character achieved by a British driver, in a British car

The John Cooper Trophy – Zane Maloney
Awarded to the highest placed British or Commonwealth driver in the FIA Formula 3 Championship

The Bruce McLaren Trophy – Mitch Evans
Awarded to the BRDC Member from the Commonwealth who has established the most meritorious performance in international motor racing

The Fairfield Trophy – Ian Loggie
For an outstanding performance by a BRDC Member

The Earl Howe Trophy – Gordon Shedden
Awarded to a BRDC Member for the most outstanding performance of the year in Historic racing

The Colin Chapman Trophy – Peter Riches
A special BRDC award to an individual displaying great team spirit be it a driver, team owner or engineer

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

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

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

The BRDC Silver Star – Tom Ingram
For the strongest performance of the year by a Member in domestic championships with points awarded to a set formula

The Graham Hill Trophy – George Russell
For the most meritorious performance by a British driver in single seater racing

The Chris Bristow Trophy – Luke Browning
For the winner of the Aston Martin AUTOSPORT BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award

The Johnny Wakefield Trophy – Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE
For the fastest lap of the season at Silverstone Grand Prix circuit

The BRDC Gold Star – Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE
For the strongest performance of the year by a Member in international championships with points awarded to a set formula

The BRDC President’s Award – David Richards CBE
In recognition of his leadership of the BRDC Motor Sport Charity as Chairman of Trustees

Photography credit: Jakob Ebrey Photograpy

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