Photo credit: www.autosport.com
Celebrating 75 Years of Autosport with a New Format for the Awards
As Autosport prepares to mark its 75th anniversary in 2025, a revamped Autosport Awards is set to launch the festivities. The ceremony, traditionally held in December at the Grosvenor House Hotel, will now take place in January at the iconic Roundhouse venue, offering a fresh setting while retaining some key historical elements and awards.
The origins of the Awards trace back to a reader poll in 1982, culminating in the inaugural ceremony in 1988. Over time, several categories have evolved, but the four core accolades—International Racing Driver, National Racing Driver, British Competition Driver, and International Rally Driver—remain central to the awards narrative. Interestingly, the Racing Car and Rally Car categories have merged into the current International Competition Car Award.
Keke Rosberg, who clinched the Formula 1 world championship in 1982, made history as the first recipient of the International Racing Driver Award. He was succeeded by other notable champions such as Nelson Piquet, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and many others, with Lewis Hamilton currently holding the record for the most wins in this category at eight. Hamilton leads in the British Competition Driver category as well, with his accolades at eight, while McLaren’s Lando Norris is a strong contender with four awards to his name.
The Rally Driver of the Year award was first presented to Michele Mouton, with British legends Colin McRae and Richard Burns later securing it multiple times. Reigning champions Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier each boast seven wins, and Ogier’s candidacy this year could potentially extend his record.
In the early years, the Rally Car Award was dominated by Audi’s pioneering Quattro, while the Porsche 956 captured the Racing Car award in 1982. Over the years, the trophy has been claimed by iconic vehicles like the 1988 McLaren MP4/4 and the 2004 Ferrari F2004, making the awards a snapshot of motorsport innovation and achievement.
As the Awards matured, additional recognitions emerged, including the McLaren Autosport Award, now the Silverstone Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, which identifies and supports promising British talent in single-seater racing. David Coulthard was the first to earn this honor, and the list of distinguished recipients has grown to include names such as Jenson Button and George Russell.
This prestigious Young Driver Award serves as the highlight of the Autosport Awards night, with the announcement of the 2024 winners scheduled for January 29 at the Roundhouse.
The 2024 Young Driver finalists
The Rookie of the Year award was introduced in 2000, with Button as its first recipient. Other awards, often judged by experts, cover categories like the Pioneering and Innovation Award, Moment of the Year, and Motorsport Promoter, ensuring a comprehensive recognition of outstanding contributions in the field. Notably, lifetime achievement awards have been instituted to honor figures like Autosport’s founding editor, Gregor Grant, and long-time technical editor, John Bolster.
These Awards have played a significant role in motorsport history, as exemplified by Hamilton’s early encounter with then-McLaren head Ron Dennis at the 1995 ceremony when he was just a young karting enthusiast.
For motorsport fans eagerly anticipating the event, detailed coverage of the 2024 winners will be available on autosport.com, ensuring that supporters can track which of their favorites take home honors on January 29.
Source
www.autosport.com