2013 AUTOSPORT Awards
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The Ferrari Driver Academy member receives his award, his first bit of silverware since finishing second in the 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 championship.
Bianchi excelled at minnow Marussia this season, claiming three top 15 finishes in his first three grands prix and comfortably beating team-mate Max Chilton.
His season-best 13th in Malaysia also earned the young team 10th in the constructors' championship, the best result of its short history and ensuring it could land a significant financial prize package for beating the rival Caterham squad.
Bianchi makes his way up to the stage.
AUTOSPORT readers have chosen Jules Bianchi as 2013 Rookie of the Year.
First up, Rookie of the Year, with nominees being professional racing drivers in their first season at their respective level.
McNish reflects on a great year: "It's been a wee while coming, but it was pretty sweet when it arrived."
Just back from the final WEC race in Bahrain, on hand to present our next award is 2013 World Endurance Champion and Le Mans winner Allan McNish.
Next up, the international racing Awards, in association with Pirelli.
Highlights of the Formula 1 season are shown to the 1,250 assembled guests.
Highlights of the Formula 1 season are shown to the 1,250 assembled guests.
"It's very impressive to reach this level in the first year," says Ogier of his immediate VW success. "The car was fast, but also reliable."
Frenchman Ogier receives his award from Horner, just the latest addition to his trophy cabinet after a sensational year.
France's – and the WRC's – newest Super Seb spearheaded series returnee Volkswagen's attack and won on the Polo WRC's second outing, after finishing second to Loeb on the opening Monte Carlo Rally.
Eight more wins, and nine more podiums, would follow as Ogier surged to a dominant title triumph. Just twice would he finish outside of the top two, after problematic rallies in Greece and Germany.
Little surprise in the AUTOSPORT readers' votes as world champion Sebastian Ogier is named the winner.
Horner also notes that Vettel is now eligible to enter our raffle tonight, having turned 26.
Horner is taking the opportunity to rib our host Steve Rider, who celebrates his 25th Awards this evening.
Moving on to International Rally Driver of the Year.
Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner takes the stage to hand out the Award.
Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner takes the stage to hand out the Award.
Great archive footage of Vatanen's Pikes Peak assault shown on the screens, as is Loeb's record breaker this year.
Don't forget, we had an exclusive track test of the Pikes Peak machine with ex-F1 ace David Coulthard.
Read about that here:
Read about that here:
Ari Vatanen, who conquered Pikes Peak for Peugeot 25 years ago, is on hand to accept the Award.
In the hands of nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb, the 208 T16 smashed the existing Pikes Peak record by a minute and a half in June this year.
The effort stunned many in the motorsport world, and you can view it here.
After a close fight in the reader votes with VW's title-winning Polo, the Rally Car of the Year goes to the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak.
We start with Rally Car of the Year.
On hand to present is Amy Williams, Olympic Gold medal winner in the 2010 Vancouver games in the skeleton bob. She also endured three days with Tony Jardine to win her class in this year's Rally GB.
On hand to present is Amy Williams, Olympic Gold medal winner in the 2010 Vancouver games in the skeleton bob. She also endured three days with Tony Jardine to win her class in this year's Rally GB.
In addition to surname jokes, Kvyat recalls a stellar season in GP3.
"Really good year for me, all these guys won the GP3 championships, thanks a lot to them. It all came together for us, and Formula 1 is a great reward for the title.
"I would say it is a great challenge, like pronouncing my surname. I am looking forward to next year, used to working very hard. Who knows? One guy managed to win with Toro Rosso…"
"Really good year for me, all these guys won the GP3 championships, thanks a lot to them. It all came together for us, and Formula 1 is a great reward for the title.
"I would say it is a great challenge, like pronouncing my surname. I am looking forward to next year, used to working very hard. Who knows? One guy managed to win with Toro Rosso…"
Next, it's the international rallying awards.
Toro Rosso-bound GP3 champion Daniil Kvyat, who has now returned from a toilet break, jokes that Formula 1 is a great challenge, like pronouncing his surname!
A quick interlude now as Henry Hope-Frost speaks to some of the motorsport stars around the room.
Since its inception in 2008, the Nissan GT Academy has proven a truly unique initiative.
Set up in Europe in conjunction with entertainment giant Sony, it aimed to take the best players of the flagship Gran Turismo game and turn them into top-line sportscar racers.
Its first winner, Lucas Ordonez, was recently crowned the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am champion and has twice finished on the LMP2 podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours, in 2011 and 2013.
One of his team-mates for the latter was fellow graduate Jann Mardenborough, who is now a British GT race winner and European Formula 3 points finisher. Dedicated versions in Germany, Russia and the United States have since been launched.
The winner is an innovative scheme that has taken gamers from their front rooms and into professional racing... the Nissan GT Academy.
"It's tough times at the moment in Formula 1," says di Resta when he is asked about his drive for next year.
Next up, it's the Pioneering and Innovation award in association with TATA Communications.
Force India driver Paul di Resta is making the presentation.
Force India driver Paul di Resta is making the presentation.
Calls from Rider about a potential knighthood for Surtees – greeted with great applause and cheers from the audience.
Applause from across the room as Surtees and Franchitti leave the stage.
Surtees also recalls Stirling Moss advising he drive "harry flat" at Goodwood, which lead to him "doing the harvesting for Lord March!"
"Try a car John, they stand up easier," he recalls as advice following his motorcycle exploits.
Surtees keeps the audience captivated with his stories of the past, while also praising the achievements of the current generation.
Surtees takes to the stage to receive his award. Back in 1964, he achieved a remarkable feat – becoming the only man to have ever won world championships on two and four wheels.
A multiple 500cc motorbike champion in the late '50s, he graduated into Formula 1 with Team Lotus. In 1963 he sealed a move to Ferrari, and it was with the Prancing Horse a year later that he claimed that unique double.
After further team switches, Surtees set up and drove for his own eponymous outfit in 1970. He retired two years later, but has remained a prominent figure in motorsport.
The Gregor Grant Award for lifetime achievement goes to... John Surtees.
Franchitti previously received a Gregor Grant Award and the next such presentation tonight goes to another British legend who holds a unique place in motorsport.
Franchitti is also a former winner of the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award, with images of that night shown on the big screen.
Franchitti is now explaining the medical advice that has forced the end of his stellar career after that horrific shunt in Houston.
Walking up to another standing ovation, retiring IndyCar legend Dario Franchitti takes to the stage to make the next presentation.
Plenty of good humour in London tonight. Bruhl's message – delivered via video – ends in the voice of Lauda. Well received by the audience.
Lauda's Award celebration ends with a special message from the actor who brilliantly played him in RUSH, Daniel Bruhl.
The topic of conversation switches to RUSH now, after a prolonged...discussion between Watson and Lauda about their heyday antics.
Lauda praises the depiction of his 1976 title fight with James Hunt.
Lauda praises the depiction of his 1976 title fight with James Hunt.
By: Geoff Creighton, Scott Mitchell
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