Button eyes AUTOSPORT Awards glory

The Briton is among the contenders for the International Racing Driver of the Year and British Competition Driver of the Year awards.

Rivals for the former are likely to include two-time winner and 2010 team-mate Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 title rival Sebastian Vettel, GP2 champion Nico Hulkenberg and NASCAR's first-ever four-straight title winner Jimmie Johnson.

Competition for the British Competition Driver of the Year award will be just as tight. Hamilton is again in contention to add to his award from 2007, along with IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti, DTM race winner Gary Paffett, 2008 award winner Allan McNish, and World Touring Car Championship frontrunners Andy Priaulx and Rob Huff.

Hulkenberg will be one of the favourites for the AUTOSPORT.com Rookie of the Year award after beating off the most experienced field ever assembled in GP2 to take this year's title. Up against him will be the likes of British Formula 3 champion Daniel Ricciardo, Peugeot Intercontinental Rally Challenge driver Kris Meeke, the F3 Euro Series' Valtteri Bottas and IndyCar driver Raphael Matos.

There are many other awards to be claimed during the evening. Brawn and Red Bull Racing are expected to go head-to-head for the International Racing Car of the Year award, while Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen will lead the fight for International Rally Driver of the Year.

As always, the night will end with the presentation of one of the world's most prestigious awards for junior drivers, the McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award. The winner will join such luminaries as Button, Franchitti and David Coulthard in walking away with a cheque for £50,000 and an F1 test with McLaren.