The British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) celebrated motor racing achievements of 2012 on Monday 3rd December, at the BRDC Annual Awards.
The ceremony, hosted by BBC Formula 1 presenter Jake Humphrey, was attended by the great and good of British motor racing, including Sir Stirling Moss OBE, John Surtees OBE, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Sir Frank Williams CBE, Derek Warwick, David Coulthard MBE, Christian Horner, Ross Brawn OBE, Dario Franchitti, Eddie Jordan OBE and Murray Walker OBE.
The event, staged at The Grand Connaught Rooms in Central London, was also attended by the Club’s President-in-Chief, HRH The Duke of Kent KG. His Royal Highness presented three trophies at the awards luncheon, while special guest and two-times Olympic Gold medallist Ed Clancy MBE presented ‘The Colin Chapman Trophy’ to Christian Horner, the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 Team Principal who steered his team to its third consecutive F1 clean sweep in 2012, securing both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Formula 1 World Championships.
Rob Huff was awarded the BRDC’s premier annual award, the prestigious BRDC Gold Star, for the second year running after winning the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Championship. The Chevrolet driver was crowned World Champion after a dramatic season finale in Macau; having been forced to retire after an accident in Race One, the Championship was suddenly wide open, however, a second placed finish in Race Two secured enough points to take the overall title. It was also a good year for British Touring Cars, as Gordon Shedden received the Club’s highest accolade for national racing, the BRDC Silver Star.
British achievements in Formula 1 were further recognised with Lewis Hamilton MBE being awarded ‘The ERA Club Trophy’ and Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey OBE collecting ‘The Sir Jackie Stewart Award’ for the fourth year running. The outstanding successes of Dario Franchitti, who stamped his name in the record books by winning the Indy 500 for the third time in 2012, were also acknowledged with the Scot receiving ‘The Earl Howe Trophy’.
Martin and Alex Brundles’ assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans was also recognised at the BRDC Awards, after the duo teamed up to pilot the Nissan-powered Greaves Motorsport LMP2 prototype in the legendary race. The father and son team were awarded ‘The Woolf Barnato Trophy’ by ‘the voice of F1’, Murray Walker.
BRDC Annual Award Winners 2012
BRDC GOLD STAR: ROB HUFF
First presented in 1929. The BRDC Gold Star is the Club’s premier annual award. It recognises the strongest performance of the year by a Member in international motor sport. Points are awarded on a set formula.
BRDC SILVER STAR: GORDON SHEDDEN
Awarded annually, the BRDC Silver Star is the domestic equivalent of the BRDC Gold Star.
THE BRUCE McLAREN TROPHY: MITCH EVANS
Awarded to the Commonwealth driver who has established the most meritorious performances in international motor racing.
THE CHRIS BRISTOW TROPHY: JAKE DENNIS
Awarded to the winner of the BRDC McLaren AUTOSPORT Young Driver of the Year Award.
THE COLIN CHAPMAN TROPHY: CHRISTIAN HORNER
A BRDC Special Award presented to an individual who has shown great team spirit, be it a driver, team owner, engineer or similar.
THE EARL HOWE TROPHY: DARIO FRANCHITTI
Awarded to the highest placed British driver in the Indy 500 race, or to the British driver who has established the most meritorious performance of the year in North America.
THE ERA CLUB TROPHY: LEWIS HAMILTON MBE
Awarded to the British driver who, driving a British car, established the most meritorious performance of the year outside the UK.
THE FAIRFIELD TROPHY: ADRIAN QUAIFE-HOBBS
Awarded for an outstanding performance by a BRDC Member.
THE GRAHAM HILL TROPHY: JAMES CALADO
Awarded to the British driver for the most meritorious performance in single-seater racing.
THE INNES IRELAND TROPHY: ALEX ZANARDI
Awarded to the driver who best displayed the qualities of courage and sportsmanship epitomized by the late Innes Ireland.
THE JOHN COBB TROPHY: LUCIANO BACHETA
Awarded to a British driver, driving a British car, who has achieved success or successes of outstanding character.
THE JOHNNY WAKEFIELD TROPHY: FERNANDO ALONSO
Awarded to the driver setting the fastest race lap of the season on the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.
THE NIGEL MOORES TROPHY: SUPER NOVA RACING
Awarded to the private entrant who has established the most meritorious performance(s) in international motor racing.
THE RICHARD SEAMAN TROPHY: ROB HUFF
Awarded to the winner of the Gold Star points scoring system.
THE SILVERSTONE-LE MANS CHALLENGE: ANDRÉ LOTTERER, BENOÎT TRELUYER & MARCEL FÂSSLER
Awarded to the driver(s) who achieved the highest combined finishing record in combined results of the Silverstone LMS race and the Le Mans 24-Hour Race.
THE SIR JACKIE STEWART AWARD: ADRIAN NEWEY OBE
Awarded to a motor sport engineer who has shown brilliance during the course of the season.
THE SPENCER CHARRINGTON TROPHY: JACK HARVEY
Awarded to the highest-placed British driver in the British F3 Championship.
THE WOOLF BARNATO TROPHY: MARTIN BRUNDLE and ALEX BRUNDLE
Awarded to the highest-placed finishing British and/or Commonwealth Driver(s), in a British car, in the Le Mans 24-Hour Race.
THE ACO PLATE: ALLAN McNISH
Presented on behalf of our friends at the ACO, the award is presented to the highest-placed British driver finishing the Le Mans 24-Hour Race.
THE HENRY SURTEES AWARD: JACK HAWKSWORTH
Awarded annually for the most outstanding performance by a BRDC Rising Star.
[Source: BRDC]
