The 2012 AUTOSPORT Awards
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Congratulations to all our Award winners tonight. They are sure to provide motorsport fans with more great moments in next year.
This was the 31st AUTOSPORT Awards. Thanks for celebrating a marvelous season with us this evening. Stick with AUTOSPORT for more of the world's best motorsport coverage in 2013.
This was the 31st AUTOSPORT Awards. Thanks for celebrating a marvelous season with us this evening. Stick with AUTOSPORT for more of the world's best motorsport coverage in 2013.
So Jake Dennis joins an impressive list of McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winners over the last two decades and, as the guests mingle and chat in the Great Room, we look forward to monitoring his progress next season.
"We had a great season in Formula Renault with Fortec Motorsport, Dennis continues. "This opens so many doors and everything."
The Dennis table explodes with delight as the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner makes his way through the crowd and up to the stage.
Jake Dennis is the winner of the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award for 2012!
There is anticipation across the Great Room as one of six young drivers is moments away from a major career boost. The Silverstone test highlights are played out on the big screen.
The prize on offer is amazing, and sets drivers on a path to further success.
• £100,000 towards his racing future
• Full membership of the British Racing Drivers' Club
• A TW Steel watch
• A test in a McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car.
• £100,000 towards his racing future
• Full membership of the British Racing Drivers' Club
• A TW Steel watch
• A test in a McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car.
Finalists
The McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award tests took place in early November at Silverstone – the home of British motorsport and the British Racing Drivers' Club.
The six finalists chosen by the panel from AUTOSPORT readers' nominations took part in two days of running on the Grand Prix circuit with Formula 2, DTM and McLaren GT cars.
The judges then interviewed the half-dozen at the McLaren Technology Centre, before settling on the outstanding candidate from the best of this year’s British driving talent.
McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale, AUTOSPORT group publisher Rob Aherne and BRDC president Derek Warwick are invited up to present tonight's big Award.
To remind you, these are the six candidates:
• Jake Dennis, 17, Formula Renault NEC champion
• Jack Hawksworth, 21, Star Mazda champion
• Josh Hill, 21, third in Formula Renault NEC
• Jordan King, 18, Formula Renault NEC runner-up
• Melville McKee, 18, Formula Renault Eurocup frontrunner
• Josh Webster, 18, Formula Renault BARC runner-up.
• Jake Dennis, 17, Formula Renault NEC champion
• Jack Hawksworth, 21, Star Mazda champion
• Josh Hill, 21, third in Formula Renault NEC
• Jordan King, 18, Formula Renault NEC runner-up
• Melville McKee, 18, Formula Renault Eurocup frontrunner
• Josh Webster, 18, Formula Renault BARC runner-up.
And so, the moment that many people have been waiting for and the reason why we are all here tonight - the 2012 McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award.
For one of the six nominated drivers, a dream will be realised and a path to motor racing stardom created in the next few minutes.
For one of the six nominated drivers, a dream will be realised and a path to motor racing stardom created in the next few minutes.
Another huge round of applause for Vettel, AUTOSPORT readers' International Racing Driver of the Year.
"I'm nervous, the only other guy up here without a tie was Eddie Jordan," jokes Vettel.
"Sebastian shows that he is really strong in his mind," says Loeb. "The last race started badly but he came back and closed the gap."
"I just tried to stay on it," says Vettel.
"Michael [Schumacher] was very fair. He was very helpful, probably most helpful on that day. We were very quick in the wet."
"It was a long, long year of ups and downs," concludes the world champion.
"Michael [Schumacher] was very fair. He was very helpful, probably most helpful on that day. We were very quick in the wet."
"It was a long, long year of ups and downs," concludes the world champion.
"Fortunately it was raining," reflects Vettel. "I was surprised after only a couple of laps to come from the back, due to the conditions we had I was able to pass a lot of guys. The race was still very long."
"It wasn't as per plan," says Vettel on his troubled first lap in Brazil. "It was obviously a horrible feeling to see cars coming the other way."
RB8
A huge reaction in the Great Room as Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel is announced as the International Racing Driver of the Year.
Nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb is asked to come up to the stage to present the next Award - International Racing Driver of the Year.
Nominated for reader's votes towards the prestigious Award tonight are:
• Fernando Alonso
• Jenson Button
• Lewis Hamilton
• Ryan Hunter-Reay
• Kimi Raikkonen
• Sebastian Vettel
Nominated for reader's votes towards the prestigious Award tonight are:
• Fernando Alonso
• Jenson Button
• Lewis Hamilton
• Ryan Hunter-Reay
• Kimi Raikkonen
• Sebastian Vettel
Back to the floor with Henry Hope-Frost, who is with John Watson and Rob Smedley.
"I must admit when we saw the fourth corner accident we thought that was it," says Newey on Brazil. "It was a huge reliability concern."
RB8
And the winner is...
The Red Bull RB8.
Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey is joined on stage by head of aerodynamics Peter Prodromou, chief designer Rob Marshall, vehicle dynamics head Mark Ellis and head of car engineering Paul Monaghan.
"I figured I knew as much about Formula 1 as I knew about going to the moon before I did Apollo 13," says Howard as he talks about his film.
Rush director Ron Howard is invited onto the stage to present tonight's Award for Racing Car of the Year.
Contenders include the Le Mans-winning Audi R18 E-tron, the DeltaWing DW LM12, Toyota's first hybrid Le Mans challenger TS030, Lotus's race-winning E20, McLaren's MP4-27 and the title-clinching Red Bull RB8.
Contenders include the Le Mans-winning Audi R18 E-tron, the DeltaWing DW LM12, Toyota's first hybrid Le Mans challenger TS030, Lotus's race-winning E20, McLaren's MP4-27 and the title-clinching Red Bull RB8.
Preview clips from the upcoming movie Rush are being shown on screen.
"He's unbelievably fast," concludes Button after some jovial one word answers to questions about outgoing team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
"It's been a very up and down year for us," says Button. "Hopefully for all the guys at Woking this is a good thing going into 2013."
Cheers from the audience as Button makes his way onto the stage to collect the Award.
Jenson Button
Beating off strong competition from team-mate Lewis Hamilton, Scots Paul di Resta and Dario Franchitti, WTCC champion Rob Huff and DTM runner-up Gary Paffett...
Jordan announces that AUTOSPORT readers have voted Jenson Button as British Competition Driver of the Year.
Rider takes the time to suggest some new presenters for the BBC's F1 coverage. "I'm a nightmare to work with... ask Jake," responds Jordan.
"You have to know some very dodgy people to come up with the stories I do," jokes Jordan as the TV banter continues.
Next we move on to the international racing section, presented by Pirelli.
First, within this batch is the British Competition Driver Award.
BBC Formula 1 pundit Eddie Jordan is invited onto the stage by Steve Rider to present the gong.
First, within this batch is the British Competition Driver Award.
BBC Formula 1 pundit Eddie Jordan is invited onto the stage by Steve Rider to present the gong.
"We did a super job in Formula 2," said Tuscher. "The only thing I can say is thank you to everyone who followed me this year."
Matheo Tuscher
At just 15 years of age, Tuscher is the youngest-ever winner of the Rookie of the Year Award, having finished runner-up in the FIA Formula 2 championship this year.
His career in single seaters began well with victory in the Formula Pilota China series last year, before moving to F2 this season - stunning the establishment in the opening round by qualifying on pole position.
The Swiss youngster claimed his maiden victory at Paul Ricard in July, before going on to take the season-ending round at Monza.
Tuscher's Award tonight is all the more remarkable, given the level of competition in this category.
Horner announces that Matheo Tuscher has been voted the 2012 AUTOSPORT.com Rookie of the Year.
Tuscher makes his way through the tables to great applause from the assembled guests.
Tuscher makes his way through the tables to great applause from the assembled guests.
The banter continues as Rider jokes about Jake Humphrey's future plans with BT, described as "football on the phone"
"I have never been so happy to see Jenson Button win a grand prix," says Horner as he reflects on a dramatic title decider.
"It's good to see Jake Humphrey is here to step in," jokes Horner as Steve Rider continues to struggle with his voice.
The next Award is voted for by the readers of this website – the 2012 Rookie of the Year Award.
Last year you voted for Paul di Resta, who went on to a strong second season in Formula 1 with Force India.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is invited up to present the Award.
Here is a reminder of the contenders:
• James Calado
• Robin Frijns
• Romain Grosjean
• Josef Newgarden
• Simon Pagenaud
• Charles Pic
• Daniel Ricciardo
• Felix Seralles
• Matheo Tuscher
• Jean-Eric Vergne
Last year you voted for Paul di Resta, who went on to a strong second season in Formula 1 with Force India.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is invited up to present the Award.
Here is a reminder of the contenders:
• James Calado
• Robin Frijns
• Romain Grosjean
• Josef Newgarden
• Simon Pagenaud
• Charles Pic
• Daniel Ricciardo
• Felix Seralles
• Matheo Tuscher
• Jean-Eric Vergne
"The British championship back in the 80s was like the world championship is now, it was a fantastic era," says McRae.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton
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