Autosport award nominees named

They are Formula Renault UK champion Oliver Jarvis and frontrunner James Jakes, Formula BMW UK runner-up Sam Bird, Formula Ford Festival winner Duncan Tappy, Formula Palmer Audi champion Joe Tandy and US Formula Ford 2000 runner-up Joey Foster.

The finalists were selected from a shortlist voted for by Autosport readers and an expert panel of judges, comprising British Racing Drivers' Club secretary Roger Lane-Nott, Motorsport Vision's Jonathan Palmer and Giles Butterfield, West Surrey Racing's Dick Bennetts, former award winner Andrew Kirkaldy, veteran commentator Ian Titchmarsh and Autosport's Marcus Pye.

The drivers will be evaluated over two days at Snetterton, where they will be tested in four different racing cars - a Caterham, a Team Dynamics BTCC Honda Integra, a Mercedes DTM touring car and a World Series by Renault single-seater.

The winner will be awarded a cheque for £50,000 and a test in a McLaren Formula One car.

Lane-Nott said: "We've got a good selection of promising talent that have a fantastic opportunity to show their potential. Aside from the cash prize, winning could be worth as much as £250,000 in other sponsorship. But it shouldn't be underestimated that just to be selected is a real achievement and a true recognition of talent.

"It's not just speed that the drivers will be judged on, but also how they adapt to new cars, deal with pressure and work with the engineers."

Former winners of the award include Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Gary Paffett, Ralph Firman and last year's victor Paul di Resta. The winner will be announced at the Autosport Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on December 4.