Reigning Protyre Formula Renault BARC Champion Scott Malvern is celebrating today after last night, Sunday, 2nd December, being named British Club Driver of the Year at the annual Autosport Awards extravaganza in central London.

Perfectly capping off a truly sensational 2012 for the Barkingside 23-year-old, Malvern received the prestigious accolade from three-time Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart at a packed Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.

Malverns richly deserved success at the Autosport Awards ceremony underlines the increasingly strong stature of Protyre Formula Renault BARC as a key rung on the single-seater ladder. It also sees the Essex driver join a distinguished list of past British Club Driver of the Year winners, including former F1 star David Coulthard and multiple IndyCar Champion Dario Franchitti.

At the start of the year I had nothing, said Malvern, Two days before the championship started I got a phone call, went to Snetterton and started. To win a championship in a year you don't think you will race, and to do it on live TV, it's been an epic year. I'm so grateful.

In addition to Malvern becoming British Club Driver of the Year, Protyre Formula Renault BARC was also represented in the 24th McLaren Autosport BRDC Award with 2012 Vice-Champion Josh Webster (Stowmarket, Suffolk) one of the six short-listed finalists.

Although Webster missed out on the coveted accolade, there was still welcome success for Renault with 17-year-old Jake Denniswho has been competing in Europe this yearscooping the award and, with it, a prize test drive in a McLaren-Mercedes F1 car.

Were absolutely delighted for Scott, he thoroughly deserves to be recognised as the British Club Driver of the Year after a sensational season, said Protyre Formula Renault BARC promoter Simon North, As much as its a tremendous achievement for Scott personally, as our champion its a huge accolade for Formula Renault BARC as a whole and true confirmation of the championships status.

During a classic year for Protyre Formula Renault BARC, regarded as the most competitive and successful in the history of the category, Malvern raced to three victories and eight other podium finishes on his way to a winning margin of 33 points over Webster.

Along with headline sponsor Protyre, Formula Renault BARC is additionally supported by Michelin, The Lubricant Consultancy, Petronas Syntium and NGK Spark Plugs.