Autosport Awards 2018
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By: Geoff Creighton
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Status: Stopped
And that's a wrap! Thanks for joining us this evening for a celebration of the 2018 motorsport season - we hope you've enjoyed our coverage of this evening's awards.
That also means it's the end of the year for Autosport Live. Thanks for your company this season, we'll see you again in the new year.
That also means it's the end of the year for Autosport Live. Thanks for your company this season, we'll see you again in the new year.
Here's the full story on Gamble's McLaren Autosport BRDC Award win, plus an explanation from Autosport's Kevin Turner, one of the judges, on why the 17-year-old was selected. 
Nicki Shields and David Croft sign off by asking guests to raise a glass to the late Henry Hope-Frost - a lovely touch to end this evening on.
"The level they operate at is really something to behold," says Plato of the Award finalists. "Genuinely, this year there wasn't a clear winner and at the start of day two there were four cars around Silverstone covered by three tenths of a second.
"It's a fantastic award, we're all very honoured [as judges] to be able to get involved. Tom is a star of the future."
"It's a fantastic award, we're all very honoured [as judges] to be able to get involved. Tom is a star of the future."
"I can't believe it," says Gamble. "It's been a dream ever since I was a kid - not just to be a nominee. It was probably two of the best days of my life at Silverstone driving the three [Motor Sport Vision Formula 2, McLaren GT3 and Ligier LMP3] cars."
Jason Plato - one of the Award judges - has been joined on stage by Lando Norris and Autosport's Andrew van de Burgt.
Before we find out the identity of this year’s winner, here’s a look back at the moment Dan Ticktum won the Award in 2017
Some final floor interviews now complete, the lights are dimmed again as we prepare to find out who this year's McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner is.
Before this evening's much-anticipated final award - the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award - here's a look at another of tonight's prizes, the John Bolster Award. 
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff receives John Bolster Award
Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff was given a John Bolster award at the 2018 Autosport Awards
Hakkinen's speech wasn't quick, but that's no matter as he recounted his years battling Michael Schumacher for the F1 world championship.
"The happy memories were seeing him in the mirrors!" says Hakkinen. "He was certainly a great racing driver. There are different personalities in racing, and the list is long, but Michael was a driver who was focussed on every detail, very hard, to improve not only the car but the team.
"I've met Michael's son [Mick] a few times and it is great to see his strength and I hope he gets the success like his dad."
"The happy memories were seeing him in the mirrors!" says Hakkinen. "He was certainly a great racing driver. There are different personalities in racing, and the list is long, but Michael was a driver who was focussed on every detail, very hard, to improve not only the car but the team.
"I've met Michael's son [Mick] a few times and it is great to see his strength and I hope he gets the success like his dad."
Hakkinen's award celebrates 20 years since he claimed his first F1 world championship with McLaren. He drove the car during October's Japanese Grand Prix weekend to mark the anniversary, picture above
Here's the full story on the Pioneering and Innovation Award sponsored by Mahindra Racing being awarded to the FIA for its work on the halo. 
Mika Hakkinen - who is described by Brundle as a 'bats*** crazy kind of guy' - is the recipient of the award.
Just two awards still to give out! The penultimate one is another Gregor Grant Award, which will be presented by Martin Brundle.
Ickx completes an entertaining speech by applauding the FIA's moves to improve safety in motorsport.
"The thing to know, because Jean mentioned safety, in those years [when Ickx was racing] you could not leave home on Friday being sure you'd be back the next Monday," he says. Motor racing was dangerous.
"I'm happy to see the young generation going into a situation where there are still battles, fights, but at least they can do it with maximum safety. and Jean and the FIA have put the maximum into that.
"This award means the chequered flag is not so far away so you have mixed feelings, but I am very grateful to my guardian angel - I gave him a really hard time."
"The thing to know, because Jean mentioned safety, in those years [when Ickx was racing] you could not leave home on Friday being sure you'd be back the next Monday," he says. Motor racing was dangerous.
"I'm happy to see the young generation going into a situation where there are still battles, fights, but at least they can do it with maximum safety. and Jean and the FIA have put the maximum into that.
"This award means the chequered flag is not so far away so you have mixed feelings, but I am very grateful to my guardian angel - I gave him a really hard time."
Jacky Ickx - a six-time Le Mans winner in his own right who enjoyed success in a diverse number of disciplines - is the recipient of this award.
Two more Gregor Grant Awards are next up as we near the end of the night - the first of which is being presented now by nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen.
While there's a brief pause in the Awards, here's another quick catch up for you, with the full story on Ogier's Rally Driver of the Year success. 
There's a brief pause in the prizegiving for a moment, as we throw to the floor to hear from the W Series as well as BTCC champion Colin Turkington.
Back to Wolff, who on receiving the John Bolster Award that is presented annually to an organisation or person that has made an exceptional contribution to motorsport technology says: "It means a lot to receive the award from you [Todt].
"You were an inspiration in your time at Ferrari and you were the first to call me and say 'it is an honour to be in the five-time winners club with you'."
"You were an inspiration in your time at Ferrari and you were the first to call me and say 'it is an honour to be in the five-time winners club with you'."
Here's the full story too on Leclerc's Richard Mille Rookie of the Year success. 
Here's what Wickens had to say in his address to those at the Awards this evening, as he continues his rehabilitation process. 
Todt remains on stage to present the next award - a John Bolster Award for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
"I have had a lot of resistance, but if you believe it goes in the right direction you must fight for it," says Todt of the halo's introduction. "We were able to demonstrate it would have had worse consequences on Charles [in the accident].
"We saw the loss of Henry Surtees [at Brands Hatch in 2009] because of one wheel hitting his head. It is worth fighting the resistance to save a life."
"We saw the loss of Henry Surtees [at Brands Hatch in 2009] because of one wheel hitting his head. It is worth fighting the resistance to save a life."
Leclerc is also on stage for a brief moment longer to talk through his part in a crash at the Belgian Grand Prix, where the halo protected his head as Fernando Alonso's McLaren flew over his Sauber.
Next up is the Pioneering and Innovation award, which has been awarded to the FIA for its work to introduce the halo and will be collected by the organisation's president Jean Todt.
"It has been a great season," says Leclerc. "I did not expect it to be so positive or the promotion [to Ferrari for 2019]. That is quite crazy and I don't quite fully realise what is happening.
"The first three races were quite difficult, a lot to learn. After that it went smooth and it was a great year an it was not positive without a great team behind me unlocking the car."
"The first three races were quite difficult, a lot to learn. After that it went smooth and it was a great year an it was not positive without a great team behind me unlocking the car."
Vergne jokes about his FE team-mate Andre Lotterer - who is 37 - being nominated for the award, before announcing Charles Leclerc as the 2018 winner of the Rookie of the Year category.
Wickens, who is continuing his recovery from a horror crash at Pocono towards the end of the IndyCar season, has recorded a warming message that has been played to the guests at the Grosvenor House hotel.
Toro Rosso F1 driver Pierre Gasly, new Ferrari recruit Charles Leclerc, Andre Lotterer, Lando Norris, George Russell and Robert Wickens are this year's nominees.
Next up is one of the hottest categories - Richard Mille Rookie of the Year. 2017/18 Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne is up on stage to present the award.
"I really had a chance to live a fantastic human adventure with Malcolm," says Ogier of his last two years with M-Sport, which he will leave at the end of this year to join Citroen. "I really never had a better boss in my career and I doubt I will [again]."
Richards wastes little time in announcing the winner, as six-time champion Sebastien Ogier takes to the stage to claim the award once again.
Nominated for the award are Jan Kopecky, Jari-Matti Latvala, Thierry Neuville, Sebastien Ogier, Carlos Sainz and Ott Tanak.
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