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Gregor Grant award: JPM & Wheatcroft

Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya and Donington Park owner Tom Wheatcroft claimed Gregor Grant awards for services to motorsport at AUTOSPORT's big night at the Grosvenor House Hotel

The honours, named after the magazine's founding father, were presented by former world champion Keke Rosberg and the new darling of the DTM Jean Alesi - and with good reason.

Montoya's award was for breaking Rosberg's record for the fastest ever lap around a race circuit, set in qualifying for the 1985 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The Finn broke the 160mph mark, a feat bettered by Montoya in qualifying for this year's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

"This year for me qualifying was pretty good but races were always a disaster," said Montoya. "We had a really good car for qualifying and at Monza we knew we had a chance to win and went for it. I just went out and had fun.

"In qualifying, when you have low fuel and new tyres, there is nothing like it!

"Ferrari was too competitive this year and of the chances I had to win, twice I crashed with Michael."

Meanwhile, Wheatcroft celebrated his 80th birthday with the DTM providing his circuit with one of the highlights of the British racing year. And that man Alesi claimed his first win in the category after joining Mercedes at the start of the year.

"When I first started at Donington," said Wheatcroft in one of the most entertaining speeches of the night, "they said 'You can't throw a motor race there.' But away we went!

"I sold 25 years lease on Donington which was the worst thing I've ever done. But I thought it was time at my age so I sold it to some Americans..."

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