Kane scoops Young Driver accolade

The 21-year old, who dominated this year's Junior Formula Ford championship, pipped the cream of young British racing talent to land a £50,000 prize, membership to the British Racing Drivers' Club and - most importantly - a test drive in a McLaren-Mercedes Formula 1 car.

"Getting this award just means so much to me," said Kane. "I tried so hard and I want to thank my friends, family and everybody who has helped me, you know who you are. It's just so great to get this."

Under the watchful eye of the judges - the BRDC's John Fitzpatrick, John Kirkpatrick from the Jim Russell Racing Drivers' School, AUTOSPORT's Marcus Pye, commentator Ian Titchmarsh and former award winner Andrew Kirkaldy - the contenders for the 13th McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Young Driver Award spent two days in October at Silverstone testing a Dallara-Mugen Honda F3 car, a BTCC Vauxhall Astra Coupe and an AMG DTM Mercedes-Benz CLK.

While the judges were impressed with the overall standard of the drivers, Kane stood out. The Ulsterman follows in the footsteps of previous Young Driver Winners David Coulthard, Champ Car ace Dario Franchitti and Jenson Button and the young ace says he's excited about the future.

"I want to learn a bit more before moving any further," he said. And of his prospective drive in a McLaren Formula 1 car he said: "I can handle it no problem."



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Kane took the Irish Junior karting title in 1997. He came fourth in the Northern Irish kart series in 1998 before sealing the title the following year. Last year, he was the Northern Irish FFord 1600 champion and a race winner in the British Junior FFord Zetec series. Kane dominated this year's Junior FFord series with Mackie Motorsport to take the championship.

The Finalists

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Raced in British karts before stepping up to cars in the 750 Motor Club's Locost sportscar series. He won the championship in his debut year and then moved into Caterham Roadsports last year. Sticking with Caterham, Pullan joined the field for the inaugural Eurocup and dominated, winning at Spa, Zandvoort, Dijon and the Nurburgring.


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Kerr was the British Senior TKM kart champion who stepped up to cars in the Formula First series, winning the title in 1997. Kerr moved to Formula Renault in 1999, finishing the season in sixth, but taking the Star Cup for first year drivers. He then joined Formula Palmer Audi, finishing fifth in 1999, before wrapping up the British Scholarship class this year with Fred Goddard Racing.


21
Breeze started in British karts and combined that with racing in the New Zealand Formula Ford 1600 championship with Formula Ford Zetec in Britain in 1998. He stepped up to slicks and wings in the British Formula Renault championship in 1999, and was a frontrunner for his first two years. Breeze won that championship this year for Motaworld, ending an unbeaten run of six titles for Manor Motorsport.


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Gilmore raced in Irish karts before stepping up to the Irish Formula Ford 1600 and the Northern Irish FFord in 1998, taking the title in the latter series. He came 'across the water' to race in the British FFord Zetec the following year. He scooped last year's Junior FFord Zetec title, as well as scoring two race wins in the European FFord series.


21
Watts raced in the British kart championship. He won the Formula First championship in 1998, having stepped up to cars before joining the Formula Renault series last year. He was a race winner in the category for multiple champions Manor Motorsport, but really became a serious contender with Falcon Motorsport, finishing third overall.