Power wins Jack Brabham award

Will Power

Team Australia Champ Car driver Will Power has been awarded the prestigious Sir Jack Brabham Award at the CAMS Australian Motorsport Awards in Melbourne, Australia tonight.

Power, who is still in the United States preparing for next season’s Champ Car World Series, sent messages of thanks to the dinner, truly humbled by the prestigious honor.

The Sir Jack Brabham Award is for outstanding achievement by an Australian in international competition. Last year the award went to Cody Crocker and Ben Atkinson for winning the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.

For 2007, the Board of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) selected Will Power to be the recipient of the Award in recognition of his successful year in the Champ Car World Series with Team Australia.

Power won two races in Las Vegas and Toronto and five pole positions this season on his way to fourth in this year’s Champ Car World Series points standings. In the season opener in Las Vegas in April he became the first Australian driver to win a Champ Car event.

Sir Jack Brabham was the first driver in history to be knighted for his services to motorsport and the first Australian to win the Formula 1 World Championship.

The triple F1 world champion is the only Formula One driver to have won a world title in a car of his own construction – the BT19 – which he drove to victory in 1966.

WHAT THE TEAM HAD TO SAY …

Will Power – #5 Aussie Vineyards Team Australia DP01

“It is such an honor to receive this award with Sir Jack Brabham’s name on it," said Power.

“I have to thank the CAMS Board for their nomination as well as my team, Team Australia, because without them earning this award would not be possible.

“As an Australian driver you are always aware of the absolutely amazing things Sir Jack accomplished in his career. He is a true legend of Australian sport and world motorsport.

“I really have to thank Craig Gore and Derrick Walker for the opportunity to race for such a great team in this fantastic open-wheel championship, the Champ Car World Series."

Craig Gore – Team Australia Co-Owner

“Will has come a long way as a driver this year, worked very hard and deserves a lot of credit for what he has achieved," said Gore.

“He is very honored to receive this award that carries the name of the legendary Sir Jack Brabham, because there is no bigger name in Australian motorsport than Sir Jack.

“He thoroughly deserves this award for all his hard work."