Harry King named Autosport's National Driver of the Year

The 19-year-old was a sensation in his first year in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, which supports the British Touring Car Championship.

The Porsche Junior took 12 wins from 16 races and was only beaten in qualifying once during the 2020 campaign - by 0.002 seconds. King secured the title with a meeting still to go and is targeting a step up to the Formula 1-supporting Porsche Supercup next year.

Autosport readers have voted King the best National driver of the season, ahead of BTCC title rivals Ash Sutton and Colin Turkington, and British GT pacesetter Phil Keen.

"I certainly didn't think I would [win] being up against the heavyweights, like the touring car boys - wow!" said King. "I knew it would be tough against Ash and Colin and also Phil Keen from British GT so it's a nice award to take into the winter, as well as the championship.

"It's quite a special award and it's nice to gain recognition for the hard work that has gone into this year. I'm grateful for each and every vote, I'm satisfied that people recognised the hard work and I think the best way to repay the favour to them is to give them entertaining racing.

"Also thank you to Porsche Cars for the Junior opportunity - it's been a whirlwind of a first year and I'm thoroughly looking forward to the next one."

BTCC drivers normally dominate the award, which is open to drivers competing in the BTCC or British GT packages, or at FIA Formula 3 level. Multiple tin-top champions Jason Plato, Matt Neal, Gordon Shedden and Turkington are all former winners.

Other previous winners include Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, David Coulthard, Takuma Sato and Lando Norris - who all took the prize during their junior careers on the way to F1.

The 2020 edition of the Autosport Awards is taking place online, with increased digital coverage, and continues the tradition of highlighting the best of the motorsport season.

Other categories include International Racing Driver of the Year presented by Pirelli, International Racing Car of the Year, International Rally Driver of the Year, Rally Car of the Year, Rider of the Year, Richard Mille Rookie of the Year, British Competition Driver of the Year, Moment of the Year presented by Marelli, and the Pioneering and Innovation Award presented by Mahindra.

The Esports Driver of the Year Award presented by Motorsport Games has also been introduced this year.

To find out which other winners Autosport readers have voted for, go to
autosport.com/awards