George Russell wins 2014 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award
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| George Russell |
Gifted F4 racing rookie George Russell won the highly-coveted McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award at tonight's glittering AUTOSPORT Awards 2014 in association with Mercedes-Benz at London's Grosvenor House Hotel – setting himself on-track for a successful career in the fast lane.
Arguably the most prestigious accolade in the junior echelons of the sport, the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award has previously been bestowed upon the likes of Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button, IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 legend Dario Franchitti, World Endurance Champion Anthony Davidson, multiple Grand Prix-winner David Coulthard and fellow Scottish F1 ace Paul di Resta – heady company indeed.
The 2014 crop of finalists – Russell, Alexander Albon, Ben Barnicoat, Sennan Fielding, Seb Morris and Harrison Scott – were all selected for their impressive achievements over the course of the year, and were put through their paces at the celebrated ‘Home of British Motor Racing', Silverstone, in a range of on and off-track tests.
All six drivers took to the circuit in Mercedes' 500bhp DTM tin-top contender, McLaren's new MP4-12C GT3 sportscar and the Williams-built Formula 2 single-seater run by Jonathan Palmer's MSV team, being evaluated on their capabilities in a number of different scenarios from qualifying runs to short race simulations.
They also underwent a rigorous physical fitness assessment at the Porsche Human Performance Centre and interviews with the expert judging panel, representing all three of the award's partners – McLaren, AUTOSPORT and the BRDC – and combining a blend of successful drivers, F1 technical knowledge and data analysis, experienced followers of the sport and those with an overview of national level motor racing.
The panel was chaired by former F1 racer and World Sportscar Champion Derek Warwick – President of the British Racing Drivers' Club – two-time BTCC Champion Jason Plato, team boss and erstwhile GT racer Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren Head of Vehicle Engineering Mark Williams, veteran commentator Ian Titchmarsh and Kevin Turner, editor of AUTOSPORT's sister publication Motorsport News.
In the end, Russell emerged as a deserving winner to crown a tremendous campaign that saw him claim five victories on his way to the BRDC Formula 4 title with Lanan Racing, additionally finish fourth overall in FR Alps and sensationally triumph on his end-of-season debut in the fiercely-contested Formula Renault Eurocup.
In a year when the competition was as tough as it has ever been, the teenager's McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award success has not only earned him £100,000, a McLaren F1 test, full BRDC membership and an Arai GP-6 RC carbon helmet – but has also firmly established him as a bona fide star of the future.
"It's been such a long wait over the last few weeks," reflected Russell, at just 16, both the youngest driver in the contest and indeed the youngest ever to clinch the illustrious accolade. "I went into the Silverstone test off the back of two fantastic weeks, winning the final race of the Formula Renault Eurocup season followed by the BRDC Formula 4 title.
"I focused on treating the shoot-out exactly the same as I would a normal race weekend and didn't put any extra pressure on myself. I gave it 110 per cent and put absolutely everything into it, and came out of it believing I was in with a shout.
"I'm just over-the-moon now. To receive such a prestigious award is something incredible. Winning the BRDC F4 Championship was the biggest achievement of my career at that point, but this definitely tops it. Some unbelievable drivers have won the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award, and I'm struggling to put into words how it feels to have joined that list myself. I'm hoping it will open a lot of doors for me – and to be able to drive an F1 car will be a dream come true…"
"In every single session, this guy was at the top end of the time charts," added Warwick. "He is a great champion and I am absolutely sure that he will be back up on this stage in the years to come many times over."
The McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award was inaugurated in 1989, when future F1 star Coulthard won. The aim is to boost the prospects of young British racing talent, and the list of former winners is impressive. As well as Coulthard, 2009 F1 World Champion Button, former Force India F1 driver di Resta, multiple IndyCar Champion Franchitti, DTM protagonists Gary Paffett and Jamie Green, World Endurance Champion Davidson and fellow sportscar aces Oliver Gavin, Jonny Kane and Darren Turner are all among the 25 previous winners.