Massa wins third Capacete de Ouro award

(GMM) Felipe Massa this week won his third successive Capacete de Ouro (Golden Helmet) award in his native Brazil.

The prize, handed out annually by the motor racing magazine Revista Racing, goes to Brazil's top driver of the year.

Ferrari's Massa, 27, failed to win the 2008 drivers' world championship by one point, despite winning this month's season finale in his native Sao Paulo from pole position.

Rubens Barrichello received the silver prize and a special trophy for this year becoming the most experienced driver in the history of the sport.

Brazilian rookie Nelson Piquet took the bronze prize in the F1 category.

GP2's Lucas di Grassi received the prize as the best Brazilian in the international series category, despite trailing his countryman Bruno Senna in the final drivers' standings by one point.

The awards are voted by dozens of journalists of the Brazilian specialist media.