McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award finalists complete F2, GT and DTM runs
The two on-track assessment days for the 26th McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award took place at Silverstone earlier this week
Autosport Awards
The Autosport Awards are a series of awards presented by motor racing magazine Autosport to drivers that have achieved significant milestones each season. Some of the presentations are selected by the general public via a reader's poll.
Formula Renault Eurocup frontrunner Alexander Albon, FR Northern European Cup champion Ben Barnicoat and title rival Seb Morris, British Formula Ford runner-up Harrison Scott, BRDC Formula 4 champion George Russell and series race winner Sennan Fielding took part in the two-day process.
The finalists are competing for a McLaren Formula 1 test drive - which 2013 winner Matt Parry completed during the assessment days - as well as £100,000, full BRDC membership and a Arai GP-6 RC carbon helmet.
Having previously completed simulator and fitness assessments, the drivers began the on-track evaluation, which took place on the Grand Prix circuit after being moved from the International layout, on Monday with old- and new-tyre runs in MotorSport Vision-prepared Formula 2 machinery.
They then moved onto McLaren's latest GT3 model, the 650S, in which factory driver Rob Bell provided the benchmark, and a DTM Mercedes C-Coupe run by leading team HWA with assistance from ex-Formula 1 driver and Award winner Paul di Resta, before returning to the F2 cars on Tuesday morning.
"We thought there would be a bigger spread and it would be easier to pick between two or three but that actually hasn't happened," said BRDC president and 1992 world sportscar champion Derek Warwick, chairman of the judges.
"We've got six very good, talented guys out there. I think it's surprised all us judges that they are so close."
Di Resta, who won the Award in 2004, believes consistent dry conditions over the two days has enabled each driver to showcase his talents to the full.
"They've had bloody good conditions," he said. "It's pushed them on a bit more, to be honest.
"The excellence will rise. There's a few that have stuck out, but they all deserved the opportunity. Whether they win it or not they've had a chance to drive some special cars and be involved."
The final stage of the process will take place at McLaren's Woking base later this month, when each driver will be interviewed by the judging panel.
In addition to Warwick, the judges include record British Touring Car race winner Jason Plato, McLaren head of vehicle engineering Mark Williams, former Award winner Andrew Kirkaldy, leading circuit commentator Ian Titchmarsh and Motorsport News editor Kevin Turner.
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