Alexander Sims has today been named one of six finalists in the highly prestigious 2008 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award – the nomination capping a truly stunning year for the 20-year-old from Wansford in Cambridgeshire.Last Sunday, at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent, Alexander produced breathtaking performances during the final two rounds of the Formula Renault UK season to end the 2008 campaign as Vice-Champion.Ending the championship with two race wins, 12 podiums, one pole position and three fastest laps, the Manor Competition racer also had the honour of being named as one of only a handful of young drivers in 2008 to be accepted onto the MSA British Race Elite programme which is headed by ex-Formula One driver David Brabham.Clearly a hugely talented prospect with a potentially massive future ahead of him in the realms of single-seater competition, the confirmation Alexander is in the reckoning for the 2008 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award comes as no surprise to those who have followed his season’s racing but is, nonetheless, a huge privilege and honour.“I feel very privileged to have been named a finalist, it’s a prestigious award and to be in the running is great for my career due to the recognition you receive”, said Alexander, “It’s important to keep on impressing the right people and I’d like to think we stand a good chance of winning. I’m really looking forward to it, this caps off the year superbly.”The award evaluations, which will see Alexander have the opportunity to drive superb race cars including a Formula 3 racer, an Aston Martin N24 and a DTM touring car, will take place at Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk.Past winners of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award include current Formula One stars Jenson Button and David Coulthard, former F1 racers Anthony Davidson and Ralph Firman, F1 test driver Gary Paffett and 2007 Indy Racing League Champion and Indianapolis 500 Winner Dario Franchitti.Should Alexander’s name join the list of famous racers to have triumphed in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, the young star will win a cheque for £50,000, a test at Paul Ricard HTTT in France at the wheel of a GT1 Aston Martin and, most spectacularly of all, a test in a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One car.The winner of the accolade will be announced during the annual Autosport Awards evening on Sunday, 7th December, in London.Alexander, who studied at Stamford School during his formative years at the same time as carving out an incredibly successful domestic and international karting career, has long been considered a driver with the potential to reach Formula One. After today’s announcement in Autosport Magazine, he’s one step closer to achieving his dream.Having now concluded his second season of car racing, Alexander is looking forward to 2009 where he is aiming to climb the motorsport ladder into either the Formula 3 Euroseries or British Formula 3 International Series.

Before then, the talented racer will return to the Manor Competition fold next weekend, 4th/5th October, when he will make his Formula Renault WEC (West European Cup) debut during the latest rounds of the championship at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.Alexander Sims ProfileAge - 20Date of Birth - 15th March 1988Lives - Wansford, CambridgeshireBorn - St. Thomas’ Hospital, LondonNationality - BritishSponsors - Ocean Spray USA, Stemilt Growers, Northern Fruit Company, J.O Sims, ILIP, Wing Long Packaging, Grant Thornton Racing Career Highlights2008Formula Renault UK Vice-Champion – highest points scorer overall, two race wins, 12  podiums, one pole position and three fastest laps;Eurocup Formula Renault – sixth on series debut at Le Mans, France;Named MSA British Race Elite Programme member2007 Formula Renault UK Championship – 8th overall with one win, two other podiums, one fastest lap and three Driver of the Day accolades;French Formula Renault Championship – selected races with top five results at Ledenon and Dijon and sixth place at Barcelona, Spain; Formula Renault NEC Championship – top five at Nurburgring, Germany;Formula Renault UK Winter Championship – best result of fifth at Croft2006Formula Renault UK Winter Championship – 9th overall with second place at Croft and fifth position at Brands Hatch;CIK Race of Americas Champion; Florida Formula A Winter Tour – 4 wins2004Formula A Parma Industrials Champion; Kartmasters ‘Grand Prix’ Super Libre Senior Karting Vice-Champion;Super Libre Winter Series Champion2003Kartmasters ‘Grand Prix’ Super Libre Senior Karting Champion;Formula A Parma Industrials Vice-Champion2002CIK-FIA 8th Monaco Kart Cup Champion; Super 1 MSA British Junior Karting Champion;Kartmasters BARC/MSA Karting Grand Prix Champion;BRDC Champions of the Future Champion;