The Silverstone Autosport BRDC Award is an award set up in 1989, following the demise of the Grovewood Awards, to reward and recognise young racing drivers from the UK.McLaren Mercedes – Young Driver Programme As its names suggest, the award is backed by Silverstone, motorsport magazine Autosport, and the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC). As well as the prestige of winning the award, a test drive in an Aston Martin Formula One car and £200,000 – increased from £50,000 in 2010 – cash prize, the award winner is also presented with the Chris Bristow Trophy.British Racing Drivers' Club – Awards
McLaren ended its longstanding partnership with the accolade in January 2019, and was replaced by Aston Martin. The 2019 winner received a test in a Red Bull Racing car at Silverstone, as Aston Martin was the team's sponsor, and test in an FIA World Endurance Championship Aston Martin Vantage GTE car. The Award was not held in 2020, but since 2021, the winner has received a test in an Aston Martin F1 Team car and an overall £200,000 prize fund.
In August 2025, it was announced that the 2025 award would not take place, with organisers stating a review of the award would take place before a future relaunch.
Procedure Members of the public are invited to nominate drivers for the award and a shortlist of six finalists is decided upon by the award's judging panel. The finalists then spend two or three days at a British circuit in mid-November driving different types of car to evaluate their performance as well as interview sessions with the panel. The winner is announced at the annual Autosport Awards in early December.
Past winners and nominees A total of 134 drivers have been nominated for the prize since it was first handed out. Year Winner Career highlights Losing Finalists 1989 David Coulthard British Formula Ford champion (1989)British F3 runner-up (1991)F3000 3rd place (1993)F1 (–), 13 winsDTM (2010–2012) no shootoutchosen by Autosport 1990 Gareth Rees Marlboro Masters F3 winner (1994)British F2 winner (1996) Philip BateSteve BroganDavid CuffShaun NicholsonJames Rhodes 1991 Oliver Gavin British F3 champion (1995)F1 test driver (Pacific, Benetton)Five-time class winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Dario FranchittiJonathan McGallDino MorelliGuy SmithJamie Spence 1992 Dario Franchitti British Formula Vauxhall champion (1993)CART runner-up (1999)Indianapolis 500 Winner (2007, 2010, 2012)IndyCar Series champion (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011) Paul EvansRalph FirmanJonny KaneMartin O'ConnellBrian Saunders 1993 Ralph Firman British F3 champion (1996)Formula Nippon champion (2002)Jordan F1 driver () Darren MalkinDarren ManningJames MatthewsGuy SmithJamie Spence 1994 Jamie Davies F3000 4th place (1997)British GT champion (2002)GTS class winner at 2003 24 Hours of Le MansLe Mans Series champion (2004)2nd place at 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans Alex DeightonPeter DumbreckJonny KaneJames MatthewsRichard Westbrook 1995 Jonny Kane British Formula Vauxhall champion (1996)British F3 champion (1997)LMP2 class-winner at 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans Wayne DouglasMarc HynesKevin McGarrityGuy SmithJustin Wilson 1996 Darren Turner Formula Renault UK runner-up (1996)DTM (2000–2001)BTCC (2006–2008)24 Hours of Le Mans GT1 winner (2007, 2008)24 Hours of Le Mans LMGTE Pro winner (2017) David CookPeter DumbreckDarren MalkinTim MullenDan Wheldon 1997 Andrew Kirkaldy British Formula Vauxhall runner-up (1997)British GT champion (2005) Matt DaviesMarc HynesLeighton WalkerDan WheldonAdam Wilcox 1998 Jenson Button British Formula Ford champion (1998)F1 (–), World Champion ()Super GT GT500 champion (2018) Doug BellMatt DaviesRobbie KerrJames PickfordJustin Wilson 1999 Gary Paffett British Formula Vauxhall champion (1999)German F3 champion (2002)DTM champion (2005, 2018) Westley BarberRyan DalzielRichard LyonsCraig MurrayLeighton Walker 2000 Anthony Davidson British Formula Ford champion (2000)British F3 runner-up (2001)BAR/Honda F1 test driver (–)F1 with Super Aguri-Honda (2007–2008)2nd overall at 2013 24 Hours of Le MansWorld Endurance Championship champion (2014) Ryan DalzielMatt GilmoreDerek HayesRobbie KerrMark Taylor 2001 Steven Kane Northern Irish Formula Ford champion (2000)British F3 Scholarship class runner-up (2003)Spanish F3 3rd place (2004) Carl BreezeMatt GilmoreRobbie KerrSimon PullanDanny Watts 2002 Jamie Green British F3 runner-up (2003)Formula 3 Euro Series champion (2004)DTM (8 wins, 3rd in 2012) Westley BarberAdam CarrollDan EaglingChristian EnglandDanny Watts 2003 Alex Lloyd Indy Pro Series champion (2007)4th in 2010 Indianapolis 500IndyCar Rookie of the Year (2010) Ben ClucasTom Kimber-SmithJames RossiterRyan SharpSusie Stoddart 2004 Paul di Resta Formula 3 Euro Series champion (2006)DTM champion (2010) F1 Driver with Force India 2011-201324 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 winner (2020) Tim BridgmanMike ConwayJonathan KennardScott MansellSusie Stoddart 2005 Oliver Jarvis Formula Renault UK champion (2005)Macau Grand Prix winner (2007)12 Hours of Sebring overall winner (2013)24 Hours of Daytona GT class winner (2013)24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 winner (2017)IMSA SportsCar Championship Daytona Prototype champion (2022) Sam BirdJoey FosterJames JakesJoe TandyDuncan Tappy 2006 Oliver Turvey British Formula BMW runner-up (2006)British F3 runner-up (2008)McLaren Formula One test driverLMP2 class winner - Le Mans 24hr (2014) Jon BarnesSam BirdNathan FrekeJeremy MetcalfeOliver Oakes 2007 Stefan Wilson Formula Palmer Audi runner-up (2007)3rd in 2011 Indy Lights Henry ArundelCallum MacLeodDean SmithNick TandyDuncan Tappy 2008 Alexander Sims Formula Renault UK runner-up (2008)Nürburgring 24 Hours overall winner (2023)IMSA SportsCar Championship GTP champion (2023) Wayne BoydAdam ChristodoulouJason MooreAaron SteeleDean Stoneman 2009 Dean Smith Formula BMW UK champion (2005)Formula Renault UK champion (2009) James CaladoAdam ChristodoulouJames ColeCallum MacLeodChrissy Palmer 2010 Lewis Williamson Formula Renault UK runner-up (2010)Blancpain Endurance Pro-Am Cup champion (2018) Luciano BachetaTom BlomqvistJack HarveyScott MalvernNigel Moore 2011 Oliver Rowland Formula Renault UK runner-up (2011)Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 runner-up (2013)Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion (2015) Emil BernstorffTom BlomqvistAlex LynnScott MalvernDino Zamparelli 2012 Jake Dennis Intersteps champion (2011)Formula Renault 2.0 NEC champion (2012)Formula E champion (2022–23) Jack HawksworthJosh HillJordan KingMelville McKeeJosh Webster 2013 Matt Parry Intersteps champion (2012)Formula Renault 2.0 NEC champion (2013) Jack AitkenJake HughesChris MiddlehurstSeb MorrisCharlie Robertson 2014 George Russell BRDC Formula 4 champion (2014)GP3 Series champion (2017)Formula 2 champion ()Williams F1 driver (2019–2021)Mercedes F1 driver (2022–present) Alexander AlbonBen BarnicoatSennan FieldingSeb MorrisHarrison Scott 2015 Will Palmer BRDC Formula 4 champion (2015) Jack AitkenBen BarnicoatRicky CollardJake HughesToby Sowery 2016 Lando Norris MSA Formula champion (2015)Toyota Racing Series champion (2016)Formula Renault 2.0 NEC champion (2016)Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion (2016)FIA Formula 3 European champion (2017)McLaren F1 driver (2019–present)F1 World Champion (2025) Ricky CollardSennan FieldingToby Sowery 2017 Dan Ticktum Macau Grand Prix winner (2017, 2018) Enaam AhmedMax FewtrellHarrison Scott 2018 Tom Gamble Ginetta Junior Championship champion (2017)European Le Mans Series LMP3 champion (2020) Jamie CarolineMax FewtrellKiern Jewiss 2019 Johnathan Hoggard BRDC British Formula 3 Championship runner-up (2019) Enaam AhmedJamie ChadwickAyrton Simmons 2020 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 Zak O'Sullivan GB3 Championship champion (2021) Oliver BearmanJonny EdgarLouis Foster 2022 Luke Browning F4 British Championship champion (2020)GB3 Championship champion (2022)Macau Grand Prix winner (2023) Oliver BearmanJamie ChadwickLouis Foster 2023 Joseph Loake BRSCC Fiesta Junior Championship champion (2020)3rd in GB3 Championship (2023) Taylor BarnardArvid LindbladCallum Voisin 2024 Deagen Fairclough F4 British Championship champion (2024) Arvid LindbladLouis SharpFreddie Slater 2025 Not awarded
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