The Guild of Motoring Writers will honour Sir Frank Williams and a pair of up-and-coming motorsport stars at its Annual Dinner and Awards later this month.
Sir Frank Williams has to date masterminded seven drivers’ world championships, nine constructors’ championships and notched up a total of 113 Grand Prix F1 wins
He will receive recognition for his lifetime’s contribution to motorsport with the President’s Trophy.
Sir Frank follows another motorsport and automotive legend, 2016 recipient Gordon Murray. Williams Grand Prix Engineering co-founder Patrick Head has also won the President’s Trophy, in 2012.
Also to be presented will be the Guild’s Driver and Rider of the Year honours. Past winners include Sir Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Nigel Mansell, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Carl Fogarty, Mike Hawthorn, Joey Dunlop and James Toseland.
Since 2009, both awards have been presented to a young British competitor who, in the opinion of a panel of judges, has shown such skill, courage, initiative or endurance, or a combination of these qualities, to single them out.
This year, the Rider of the Year title is going to KTM Endurance rider Sam Sunderland
He is the first Briton to win the gruelling Dakar Rally. Sunderland has come back from serious injury three times in his short career. He secured victory on the 2017 event, winning by a substantial 32 minutes from his nearest competitor.
Always good to have a play after training!! I missed this golden fluffy stuff ??
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.#ktm #redbull #givesyouwings #bellhelmets #oakley #xdubai #alpinestars pic.twitter.com/ajNb4afpxL— Sam Sunderland (@Sundersam) November 12, 2017
At 19, one of the youngest ever winners of the Driver of the Year accolade is George Russell
He has progressed swiftly through the ranks of British and European karting. On his way, Russell beat the likes of current F1 drivers Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon. He won this year’s GP3 Series with two races to spare.
Learnt a huge amount from my first #FP1 today! ?
Now looking forward to getting back in the car at Abu Dhabi ???#F1 pic.twitter.com/AUExTh9COL
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) November 10, 2017
The Guild of Motoring Writers’ Annual Dinner and Awards will take place on November 30th at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London.
