Junior racing driver Lewis Brown was named the RSF MSA Young Driver of the Year 2016 after a five-way shootout at iZone Driver Performance Centre, Silverstone, last week (11 November).

The accolade is awarded each year to a member of the MSA Academy’s AASE programme, a three-year course delivered in conjunction with Loughborough College.

The five finalists this year were: Brown, 17 from Lincolnshire; Zach Anderton, 17 from Chester; Nathan Edwards, 18 from Kent; Ben Green, 18 from Essex; and Emily Rogers, 17 from Essex.

The day consisted of seven sessions including physical and mental assessments, a simulation evaluation (including eye tracking and on board analysis) and interviews with members of the judging panel.

The panel comprised: Derek Walters, Racing Steps Foundation; Jonathan Day, MSA Director of Development; James Wozencroft, MSA Coach ; Anna Kemp, Loughborough College; and Jack Benyon, Motorsport News.

Brown scored highly in all seven assessments and is now set to receive a trophy and £1,000 at the MSA Night of Champions in January, said: “I am over the moon about winning the MSA RSF Young Driver of the Year Award – it was such a privilege to be nominated for the award, never mind winning it! I'd like to thank everyone who works at the MSA Academy and Derek Walters from Racing Steps Foundation for giving me the opportunity to show my talent.”

This year Brown finished third overall in his maiden season in the Ginetta Junior Championship, scoring race victories at both Donington Park and Brands Hatch.