Awards

The BRDC Gold Star dates back to 1929. It is a unique award that is presented annually to the winner of the Gold Star Points Table made up from results in International races. The Gold Star points scoring system pits the very best against each other, regardless of what they are driving or where they are racing. The BRDC Gold Star roll of honour is a Who’s Who of the BRDC and, therefore, of course international motor sport. Qualifying races are only those which qualify towards Membership of the BRDC and are listed in a matrix of qualifying championships agreed annually by the Club Board.

2022 winner: Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE

Although the Gold Star is regarded as the British Racing Drivers’ Club’s pre-eminent award for success in International races, the Silver Star, first introduced in 1977 and awarded to the BRDC Member who has been the most successful at the highest level in National racing, is much sought after by Touring Car and GT 3 drivers. Silver Star points are scored in British national championship motor races, whether they take place in the UK or overseas.

2022 winner: Tom Ingram

Awarded at the discretion of the Board for an outstanding achievement in motor sport by a BRDC Member, in this case for winning the FIA Hypercar World Endurance Championship.

2022 recipient: Brendon Hartley

Awarded at the discretion of the President of the BRDC in recognition of his leadership of the BRDC Motor Sport Charity as Chairman of Trustees.

2022 recipient: David Richards C.B.E.

Awarded to the BRDC Member from the Commonwealth who has established the most meritorious performances in international racing. Named after Bruce McLaren (1937-1970), engineer and racing driver contesting 101 Grand Prix, winning four times – and founder of the McLaren Racing team.

2022 winner: Mitch Evans

Awarded to the winner of the BRDC McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award. Chris Bristow was a natural talent whose potential was tragically not realised when he lost his life in an accident during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps in 1960.

2022 winner: Luke Browning

A special BRDC Award presented to an individual who has shown great team spirit – a driver, engineer, team owner etc. Engineer, designer and racing driver, Colin Chapman was the founder of Lotus cars and Team Lotus – a team that won seven Constructors’ titles, six Drivers’ championships and scored 73 Grand Prix victories.

2022 winner: Peter Riches

Awarded to the highest placed British or Commonwealth driver in the FIA Formula 3 Championship.

2022 winner: Zane Maloney

Awarded to a BRDC Member for the most outstanding performance of the year in Historic racing. Francis Richard Henry Penn Curzon, 5th Earl Howe, officer, MP, driver, Le Mans winner and co-founder of the BRDC was the Club’s President from 1928-1964.

2022 winner: Gordon Shedden

Awarded to the British driver who, driving a British car, established the most meritorious performance of the year outside the UK. English Racing Automobiles (ERA) were an iconic British marque which led the British challenge on the international scene during the immediate pre- and post-war period.

2022 winner: Stuart Hall

Awarded for an outstanding performance by a BRDC Member. Pat Fairfield was a highly-regarded driver of the pre-war era, scoring many victories at home and abroad – notably in an ERA. Fairfield lost his life in an accident during the 1937 Le Mans 24-Hour Race.

2022 winner: Ian Loggie

Awarded to the British driver with the most meritorious performance in single-seater racing. Graham Hill is the only driver to win the ‘triple crown’ that includes the F1 World Championship, the Indianapolis 500 and the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. He retired from racing in 1975 to run his own F1 team, only to lose his life in an air accident in November that year.

2022 winner: George Russell

Awarded to the individual(s) who best displayed the qualities of courage and sportsmanship epitomised by the late Innes Ireland. A former President of the BRDC, Innes was a Grand Prix and Sportscar driver. He notably scored the first Grand Prix success for Team Lotus at the US Grand Prix in 1961, and contested fifty Grand Prix races.

2022 winner: Robert Wickens

Awarded to a British driver, driving a British car, who has achieved outstanding success. John Rhodes Cobb was a land speed record holder – reaching a speed of 394 mph – and the fastest man to lap the Brooklands Outer Circuit in the legendary Napier-Railton. He lost his life in an attempt on the world water speed record in 1952 on the waters of Loch Ness.

2022 winner: Ross Gunn

Awarded to the driver setting the fastest race lap of the season on the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. Johnny Wakefield was hugely successful during the pre-war period at tracks such as Brooklands and Donington Park, winning the BRDC Gold Star for his performances during the 1939 season. He lost his life, at the controls of a Spitfire, during World War II.

2022 winner: Sir Lewis Hamilton M.B.E.

Awarded to the private entrant who has established the most meritorious performance(s) in international motor racing. Nigel Moores was a Jaguar enthusiast and gentleman racer of much repute. Moores’ collection of Jaguar cars were hugely successful on race tracks around Britain and in Europe.

2022 winner: JOTA Sport

Awarded to the driver(s) who achieved the highest combined finishing record in combined results of the Silverstone Le Mans Series race and the Le Mans 24-Hours.

2022 winner: Not Awarded

Awarded to a motor sport engineer who has shown brilliance during the course of the season. Three-time F1 World Champion and a former BRDC President, Sir Jackie is now a true ambassador for British motor sport – and as a 27-time Grand Prix winner his record speaks for itself.

2022 winner: Pierre Waché

Awarded to the highest-placed finishing British and/or Commonwealth driver, in a British car, in the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. Three times winner at Le Mans, Joel Woolf Barnato was one of the original BRDC-founding Bentley Boys. He was also the driver who famously beat ‘Le Train Bleu’ in the car-versus-train race from Cannes to London.

2022 winner: David Pittard

Presented on behalf of our friends at the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the Award is presented to the highest-placed British driver finishing the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. The ACO are famously known as the organisers of this legendary endurance challenge.

2022 winner: Mike Conway

Awarded annually for the most outstanding performance by a BRDC Rising Star.

2022 winner: Louis Foster

Awarded to the winner of the GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC.

2022 winner: Luke Browning

Awarded to the best placed BRDC Member in the Gold Star points table who competes in racing outside of Formula One.

2022 winner: Oliver Jarvis

Awarded at the discretion of the BRDC Board in recognition of a special achievement in motor sport, in this case in recognition of his outstanding career in the British Touring Car Championship.

2022: Jason Plato

The BRDC Gold Medal has only been awarded on fourteen occasions since it was instigated in 1996 and, for the first time, 2008 saw one of its previous winners awarded with an unprecedented second accolade. Ron Dennis CBE was awarded the Club’s Gold Medal thirteen years ago in recognition of his outstanding commitment to motor sport and its future. Amongst other significant achievements, the Club wished to recognise the foresight shown to seek out and nurture the outstanding talent of the then new British World Champion, arguably one of the finest drivers ever to have graced the sport.  The very same driver supported by Ron all those years ago now receives the BRDC Gold Medal himself, six more Formula One World Championships later and with a total of grand prix victories which now surpasses 100.  A most remarkable achievement.

2022: Not awarded

Awarded to the highest-placed British driver in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. Spencer Charrington was an MP at the turn of the twentieth century, whose family later had links to motor racing and the BRDC.

2022 winner: Not Awarded