The 2010 AUTOSPORT Awards

"You changed my life and have been a great friend," says Zanardi to Ganassi.

A special message from Ganassi's double CART champion, Alex Zanardi, is played out in the room.

The Great Room breaks out into another round of rapturous applause as Ganassi makes his way through the tables and towards the stage.

Chip Ganassi celebrates with his charge Dario Franchitti

Chip Ganassi celebrates with his charge Dario Franchitti © LAT
Following his stunning achievements in both Indycar racing and NASCAR, Horner announces that Chip Ganassi will receive a John Bolster Award.

Christian Horner is asked to remain on the stage for the second of tonight's John Bolster Awards.

Bridgestone entered Formula 1 in 1997 with its Potenza brand of tyres and almost carried Damon Hill to an amazing victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix that year.

Following Goodyear's withdrawal from the sport at the end of the season, the Japanese tyre manufacturer was left as the sole tyre supplier until Michelin made it a two-way fight again in 2001.

But Bridgestone was mostly able to see off the French manufacturer's challenge, most famously at the 2005 American Grand Prix at Indianapolis. Having completed extensive research on a new 'diamond cut' track surface the Potenza tyres proved more than a match for the conditions, while chaos reigned elsewhere.

Bridgestone became the sole tyre supplier once again after Michelin left the sport t the end of 2006. In its 14-year tenure, the company has won 11 world driver's championships and 175 grands prix .

Bridgestone director of motorsport, Hiroshi Yasukawa, is invited onto the stage to collect the Award.

Bridgestone has wrapped up 14 years in F1

Bridgestone has wrapped up 14 years in F1 © LAT
Horner announces that Bridgestone Motorsport is the recipient of a John Bolster Award for technical excellence.

Horner is asked about Red Bull's 2010 campaign but he can't resist yet another dig at his sparring partner for interviews, Eddie Jordan.

Steve Rider invites Red Bull team boss Christian Horner onto the stage to present the first of two John Bolster Awards tonight.

Since 1985 the John Bolster Award for Technical Excellence has honoured outstanding technical achievement in motor racing.

Previous winners of the award read as a who's who in motor racing technology: Don Panoz, Carl Haas, Ross Brawn, Roger Penske and the late Ken Tyrrell have all been presented with this coveted accolade.

Goss began his Formula 1 career in 1986 with the Cosworth before moving to McLaren in 1990, and has subsequently overseen many of the team's race-winning machines working with talented engineers and designers such as Adrian Newey, Pat Fry and Giorgio Ascanelli.

McLaren's chief engineer Tim Goss and chief aerodynamicst Doug McKiernan are invited up to the stage to collect the trophy.

McLaren exploited a loophole with its F-duct

McLaren exploited a loophole with its F-duct © LAT
Derek Bell remains on stage with host Steve Rider and announces that the McLaren F-duct has won the Pioneering and Innovation Award.

The AUTOSPORT Pioneering and Innovation Award recognises the never-ending research and development across the motorsport spectrum.

Previous winners since the Award's inception in 2004 include the SAFER barrier, the Audi R10 - the first diesel-powered prototype sportscar to claim victory at Le Mans - the Head and Neck Support (HANS) device, which is now used widely across all forms of the sport and the Singapore Grand Prix, Formula 1's first night race.

Last year the Award was presented to F1 in Schools.

The fireman himself can't be here tonight, but has accepted the Award in a video message played out to the great room.

In it he explains that following his Race of Champions crash last weekend, doctors advised him to take it easy for a few days. He went on to wish everyone a great evening.

Kovalainen retired from the night race with just a handful of laps remaining and, when he couldn't find a marshal's post, he decided to park his flaming Lotus alongside the pitwall.

With the help of the Williams team, he grabbed an extinguisher and skillfully put out the flames.

Kovalainen extinugushed his burning Lotus in Singapore

Kovalainen extinugushed his burning Lotus in Singapore © LAT
Bell announces that Heikki Kovalainen's fiery exit from the closing laps of the Singapore Grand Prix is your LG Moment of the Year.

Derek Bell remains on stage for the presentation, as a short video of the 19 'moments' that made 2010 is played out on the screens in the Great Room.

Next up is the LG Moment of the Year Award. The electronics giant has become a key supporter and partner of Formula 1 and, in association with FOTA, it asked fans to select their favourite moment from 19 images - one from each grand prix weekend during this season.

Kobayashi will continue again with Sauber in 2011 and here's to a lot more entertaining drives. He walks up onto the stage to collect the Award.

The Japanese Sauber driver has thrilled many of you with his attacking driving style and daring overtaking manoeuvres throughout the season.

Kobayashi was spectacular in his first full season

Kobayashi was spectacular in his first full season © LAT
Bell carefully opens the envolope and announces that Kamui Kobayashi is the AUTOSPORT.com Rookie of the Year.

Voting took place throughout November on AUTOSPORT.com. The votes have been counted and the winner is about to be revealed.

Five-time Le Mans winner and double world sportscar champion Derek Bell joins host Steve Rider on stage to present the Award.

Now it's time for the main presentations at tonight's AUTOSPORT Awards.

The next Award is voted for by the readers of this website – the 2010 Rookie of the Year Award, sponsored by JMI.

Last year you voted for Kris Meeke, following his amazing victory in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge series for Peugeot.

The racing highlights of 2010 are being played out on the video screens in the Great Room.

The tension is rising for the six drivers nominated for this year's McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award as they wait to hear who will join the best of British.

They are: Luciano Bacheta, Tom Blomqvist, Jack Harvey, Scott Malvern, Nigel Moore and Lewis Williamson.

McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award contenders

Dean Smith battled hard in GP3 this season

Dean Smith battled hard in GP3 this season © LAT
One year ago, Dean Smith was the name on everyone's lips as he collected the big prize here at Grosvenor House.

The 22-year-old scooped the Award on the back of a stunning season in Formula Renault UK and moved up the motor racing ladder this season to GP3, racing against the likes of hotly-tipped Mexican Esteban Gutierrez.

Smith acquitted himself well in his first season following the Formula 1 circus around Europe, finishing seventh in the championship for Carlin. His best finishes were two fourth places at the season-opener at the Circuit de Catalunya and later at a very wet Spa in August.

Last month, the Wolverhampton man got his chance to drive the 2008 McLaren MP4-23 around Silverstone's south circuit and he was delighted by the experience.

"It's just awesome to be in the car," Smith told AUTOSPORT. "Straight away I just got my foot down on the straights to get the confidence and then every lap I just tried to go a little bit quicker. My approach was to do a good job and build my confidence. I didn't want to go too fast too soon."

Six young drivers are battling for the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award

Six young drivers are battling for the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award © LAT
The highlight of the evening as always is the presentation of the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award.

The idea to reward an outstanding young British driver was first conceived in 1989, and has since correctly identified a host of motor racing talent. David Coulthard - then the British Formula Ford champion - was the first recipient. Triple IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti, world champion Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson are just some of the names who have won this prestigious Award since its inception.

As motor racing generated more and more television coverage, the AUTOSPORT Awards grew both in size and stature, into the major end-of-season event that we know today.

The prize awarded to the annual winner of the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award has also grown, and is fiercely sought-after. This year's cash prize has doubled thanks to McLaren and the BRDC, and the chosen driver will receive the following:

• £100,000 towards their racing future
• Full membership of the British Racing Drivers' Club
• Puma racewear for a year
• A TW Steel watch
• A test in a McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car.

Vettel choked back the tears after his title-winning drive

Vettel choked back the tears after his title-winning drive © LAT
2010 has provided motor racing enthusiasts with many highlights across all disciplines, whether your passion is for racing or rallying.

The Formula 1 season went down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, with an unprecedented four drivers still in with a chance of the title. Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton all produced magic moments throughout the season, but it was Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull charge that secured his first of what could be many titles.

Once again, the Indycar series went down to a thrilling final showdown and Dario Franchitti made it three championships in four years, clinching the crown by just five points, while in NASCAR Jimmie Johnson secured his fifth title in as many seasons for Hendrick Motorsports.

Sebastien Loeb dominated the World Rally Championship to claim an amazing seventh title in a row, while Juho Hanninen triumphed in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for Skoda.

Throughout, championships were won and lost, providing thrills, incidents and marvellous moments. We would invite you to raise a glass of your favourite tipple and celebrate a wonderful 2010 motorsport season, as we salute the stars who make it all possible.

Plato took his second BTCC crown

Plato took his second BTCC crown © LAT
Priaulx remained on stage for the next Award presentation - that of National Driver of the Year.

2010 was another strong year in the top classes of British motorsport, with Jason Plato emerging as champion after a thrilling four-way decider for the BTCC crown.

Jean-Eric Vergne dominated in British F3, taking the championship with a remarkable 13 wins, while Brits James Calado and Oli Webb completed the top three in the series.

After a video of the year's highlights, Priaulx handed the Award for National Driver of the Year to Jason Plato.

Tom Blomqvist blasted his way to the Formula Renault UK title

Tom Blomqvist blasted his way to the Formula Renault UK title © LAT
Up next was the British Club driver of the Year Award, and it was with great pleasure that 1964 Formula 1 world champion John Surtees handed the trophy to Tom Blomqvist.

The sensational 16-year-old and son of rally legend Stig Blomqvist became the youngest-ever winner of the Formula Renault UK championship with four pole positions and three race victories.

Last month the British star scored a podium at Macau in the Formula BMW Pacific category on his first visit to the principality, capping off a fantastic season.

Those performances duly earned Blomqvist a nomination for the big prize tonight - a shot at the 2010 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award.

From single-seaters to tin tops next, and something of a first at the AUTOSPORT Awards.

Triple world touring car champion Andy Priaulx and BMW M Division boss Dr. Kay Segler were invited up for a special presentation - however, it was not an Award.

Both were on hand to reveal to the Great Room a partial glimpse of the brand new BMW 1-series M Coupe road car adding to the segments unveiled at Oktoberfest and the Paris motor show. Boasting 350 bhp thanks to a 3-litre straight-six turbo engine, it will get you from 0-60 mph in five seconds flat and will top out at 155 mph.

The 1-series M coupe will be on sale to UK consumers from June next year.

The Awards began this evening with a presentation to six young stars who could be the names to look out for in the future.

Recently-crowned DTM champion and Force India reserve driver Paul di Resta led the plaudits for six karting champions:

• Nathan Aston (MSA British Cadet champion)
• George Russell (Formula Mini Max champion)
• Ashley Hand (Formula Junior Max champion)
• Ben Barnicoat (Formula KF3 champion)
• Alex Albon (CIK FIA KF3 world champion)
• Jake Dennis (CIK FIA Under 18 world karting champion).

This is Alex Albon's second consecutive visit to the Great Room stage, having won the Formula Kart Stars KF3 championship last year.

All six youngsters enjoyed their outing in front of a highly influential audience and will pick up their trophies at AUTOSPORT International in January.

Vettel made a grand entrance down the stairs into the Great Room

Vettel made a grand entrance down the stairs into the Great Room © LAT
Earlier this evening, the AUTOSPORT Awards kicked off in triumphant fashion with the 1,200 guests rising in unison to applaud new world champion Sebastian Vettel as he made his way down the grand staircase into the Great Room.

A standing ovation fired up memories of the German's charge to the Formula 1 world crown with superlative drives at the final two events of the season in Brazil and Abu Dhabi at just the right time.

The 23-year-old showed incredible maturity and a cool head as he fought off the challenge of no less than three world champions to emerge victorious in the darkness of Yas Marina.

Autograph hunters outside the Grosvenor House

Autograph hunters outside the Grosvenor House © LAT
You can join in the proceedings and feel part of the event tonight by sharing your views on the Awards and reacting to events as they happen on the stage.

• Who will become the International Racing Driver of the Year? Fernando Alonso was recently voted the best driver of the season by Formula 1 team bosses. Do you, the AUTOSPORT readership, feel the same way?

• Who got your vote for the 2010 AUTOSPORT.com Rookie of the Year Award?

• 2010 has produced many remarkable moments, but which one stands out among voters as the LG Moment of the Year?

• Most importantly, who is going to have their name etched on the most coveted trophy of them all – the Mclaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award for 2010?

The answers to these and many more questions will be revealed over the next two hours of coverage, exclusively live from the Grosvenor House hotel.

If you are an AUTOSPORT.com forum member, then click on the 'SHOW LIVE FORUM' link below to begin discussion on the event as it happens.

The world champion is here tonight

The world champion is here tonight © LAT
Earlier this evening, the great and the good from the world of motor sport arrived in the Great Room at the Grosvenor House.

Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel leads a star-studded line-up, supported by past and present heroes of our sport. John Watson, Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Stefan Johansson, Pedro de la Rosa, Eddie Jordan, Sir Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks and Derek Warwick are all here tonight.

Other top echelons of motor racing are also represented. Sam Bird, David Brabham, Anthony Davidson, Gary Paffett, David Richards, Oliver Turvey and Johnny Mowlem are all here to enjoy this glittering occasion.

The invited guests are just coming towards the end of dinner, and soon the all-important Awards will be presented on the main stage.

AUTOSPORT celebrates 60 years at tonight's Awards

AUTOSPORT celebrates 60 years at tonight's Awards © LAT
Good evening everyone and a very warm welcome to the 2010 AUTOSPORT Awards, from the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, central London.

Since 1982, the world's leading motorsport weekly has celebrated the outstanding achievements of drivers across the racing spectrum, as well as the cars, teams and technical innovations that have become the talk of the sport.

Tonight, the 29th edition of this prestigious awards ceremony will take place, and you will find out who the winners are, live, right here on AUTOSPORT.com.