Sims scoops Allan Simonsen Award, Davenport Rookie of the Year
The London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, provided a suitably impressive setting for the 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship’s end-of-season awards ceremony this evening (November 6).
The glittering occasion was an opportunity to honour all of this season’s champions from across the SRO Motorsports Group spectrum, as well as a number of drivers whose achievements have earned special recognition.
Andrew Howard and Jonny Adam were on hand to collect their British GT3 Championship trophies alongside Beechdean AMR stablemates, Jamie Chadwick and Ross Gunn, who were also presented with their GT4 equivalents.
Howard, who added a second GT3 title to the one he clinched in 2013, was also awarded a personalised limited edition Blancpain 8885 S timepiece as his prize for winning the Blancpain Gentleman Trophy.
“It’s so cool!” he said. “I’ve been in British GT a long time and it’s got stronger and stronger and stronger, so to win it when I feel like the championship’s at it’s best is a massive honour. I’ve tried winning the Blancpain Gentleman Trophy for a number of years and the watch is a big bonus! We’re all here to win trophies so to clinch the Drivers’ title twice is a big deal.”
SIMS SCOOPS ALLAN SIMONSEN AWARD
Alexander Sims might have just missed out on the GT3 Drivers’ crown but his overall contribution was recognised with the Allan Simonsen Award, named in honour of one of British GT’s best-loved former stars. Always amongst the fastest Pros this year, Sims also demonstrated his sportsmanship at the final round by being the first to congratulate Adam post-race following Ecurie Ecosse’s early retirement.
Sims, who received the trophy from Allan’s brother Benny and long-time Rosso Verde co-driver Hector Lester, said: “Obviously I’m very humbled to receive the Allan Simonsen Award. I really didn’t expect to win it and thought Jonny had done such a good job that it was a given he’d receive it. But to be recognised for my efforts is lovely; the Award’s very special to British GT and so to be a part of that history is a wonderful thing personally. Full credit to Barwell and BMW Motorsport for giving me the tools to do the job.”
DAVENPORT NAMED ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Luke Davenport was equally shocked to be awarded Rookie of the Year for his part in Tolman Motorsport’s successful maiden season of British GT. While highlights included a GT4 pole position first time out at Oulton Park and gutsy class win at Brands Hatch, it was the young Englishman’s consistency and raw pace throughout the season that ultimately convinced the judges.
“This demonstrates to young drivers that the championship doesn’t just look at who’s winning,” he said. “It’s also a great springboard for drivers like myself who are part-funded trying to make a name for themselves and gain recognition. I’ll treat this as inspiration to do an even better job next year.”
Team principal Mark Lemmer accepted the Teams’ Championship trophy on behalf of Barwell Motorsport, while Academy Motorsport’s Matt Nicoll-Jones picked up the GT4 Teams’ prize.
The inaugural Sunoco Fastest Drivers of the Year were also crowned, with Jonny Adam and James Nash recognised for their respective outright speed in GT3 and GT4 throughout 2015.
It was an especially busy night for Adam who was also presented with a cheque by Anglo American Oil Company managing director Anders Hildebrand as part of his prize for winning this year’s Sunoco Whelen Challenge. The Scot will be in the US this January to prepare for 2016’s Daytona 24 Hours with Action Express Racing.
AVON TYRES BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP 2015 AWARD WINNERS
British GT3 Drivers’ Championship1st Andrew Howard and Jonny Adam, Beechdean AMR2nd Marco Attard and Alexander Sims, Barwell Motorsport/Ecurie Ecosse3rd Lee Mowle and Joe Osborne, Triple Eight Racing
British GT3 Pro-Am Drivers’ Championship1st Andrew Howard and Jonny Adam, Beechdean AMR2nd Marco Attard and Alexander Sims, Barwell Motorsport/Ecurie Ecosse3rd Liam Griffin and Rory Butcher, Oman Racing Team
British GT3 Silver Cup Drivers’ Championship1st Ahmad Al Harthy, Oman Racing Team2nd Andrew Watson and Ross Wylie, Von Ryan Racing3rd Daniel Lloyd, Oman Racing Team
British GT4 Drivers’ Championship1st Jamie Chadwick and Ross Gunn, Beechdean AMR2nd Graham Johnson and Mike Robinson, PMW Expo/Optimum Motorsport3rd Oz Yusuf and Gavan Kershaw, ISSY Racing
British GT4 Pro-Am Drivers’ Championship1st Oz Yusuf and Gavan Kershaw, ISSY Racing2nd Graham Johnson and Mike Robinson, PMW Expo/Optimum Motorsport3rd David Pattison and Luke Davenport, Tolman Motorsport
British GT4 Silver Cup Drivers’ Championship1st Ross Gunn and Jamie Chadwick, Beechdean AMR2nd Aleksander Schjerpen, Century Motorsport3rd James Birch, Century Motorsport
British GT3 Teams’ Championship1st Barwell Motorsport2nd Oman Racing Team3rd TF Sport
British GT4 Teams’ Championship1st Academy Motorsport2nd Beechdean AMR3rd PMW Expo/Optimum Motorsport
Allan Simonsen Award Winner: Alexander SimsRookie of the Year Winner: Luke DavenportBlancpain Gentleman Trophy Winner: Andrew HowardSunoco GT3 Fastest Driver of the Year Winner: Jonny AdamSunoco GT4 Fastest Driver of the Year Winner: James Nash
