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16 Sep 2011, 20:53 (Ref:2956574) | #1 | |
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McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award 2011
This week Autosport published a list of possible candidates being put forward as finalists for the 2011 Award. Suggested candidates are (see Autosport dated September 15th pages 44-45):
Tom Blomqvist Wayne Boyd Jack Hawksworth Josh Hill Alex Lynn Scott Malvern Melville McKee James Peace Oliver Rowland Will Stevens Kenneth Thirwall James Thorp Kieran Vernon Alex Walker Josh Webster Dino Zaparelli |
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17 Sep 2011, 16:01 (Ref:2956909) | #2 | |
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Malvern all the way.
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18 Sep 2011, 20:40 (Ref:2957752) | #3 | ||
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If Scott Malvern doesn't win it this year after the season he's had, then I for one will worry about the credibility of this award. It's a no brainer imho.
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19 Sep 2011, 19:53 (Ref:2958204) | #4 | |
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Stand by for a suprise then, thumbs up for Scott but years gone by have shown "unusual" results. Wilson a few years back and more recently Smith, far better prospects in both of their years as proved in career results. They got it right with Williamson though, here's hoping!
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21 Sep 2011, 10:52 (Ref:2959009) | #5 | ||
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Hi all,
As some of you may be aware I am one of the judges, so I just thought I would do a brief reminder of how it works. Essentially, the six finalists are chosen based on what they have achieved during the season. This is the stage we are at now, hence the piece in the mag (which isn't an exclusive list by the way - others are eligible). There are then two days of testing, usually in two or three different types of car, interviews with the people that run the cars and the finalists themselves. A winner is then chosen based on those test performances/feedback. That explains why, in the past, some champions were beaten to the award by drivers that they beat in their series. Adam Christodoulou vs Alexander Sims is one that sometimes gets mentioned. Adam beat Alexander in Formula Renault in 2008, but Sims won the award. I hope that makes things a bit clearer! Kevin Turner Autosport |
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21 Sep 2011, 12:12 (Ref:2959039) | #6 | ||
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Kevin.
Thanks for that and I have just a couple of questions. In Autosport Sept 15th there is a double page spread headlined "YOU PICK THE NEXT STAR" where you invite readers' nominations for the award, describe the eligibility criteria and emphasise the prestige and importance it has to the winner. You have a response coupon and an email address clearly designed to engage readers in identifying that next winner. In tiny print it also says "it only takes one vote for a driver to be considered". What you have said in your post is that "the six finalists are chosen based on what they have achieved during the season." and "A winner is then chosen based on those test performances/feedback." Now, I'm not an expert on editorial ethics but what I do know is that had that been a paid for advertisement it would have fallen foul on just about every level when it comes to misleading the consumer. Since he or she are perfectly able to nominate themselves, how exactly am I helping to pick the next star? Isn't this really a motorsport industry award? Highly desirable and prestigious of course, but chosen by a panel of insiders and experts not the public? If it is why not just say so? There's nothing wrong with that. |
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21 Sep 2011, 13:02 (Ref:2959061) | #7 | ||
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Hi Flavio,
Fair question. My understanding is that it gives the readers the opportunity to nominate people. Obviously the judges have certain people we know we need to talk about, but the idea is to get other nominations from the public, which we will then discuss as well. You'd be surprised how few drivers/drivers' families nominate themselves! So, essentially, the public is being asked/given the opportunity (depending on your point of view) to put forward drivers for discussion, which are then assessed based on what they have achieved during the season. I don't believe this is a secret. As far as the final decision is concerned, yes it comes down to what happens during the tests. For the other Autosport Awards, that is not the case. As far as I know, they are simply decided on the number of votes received. |
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21 Sep 2011, 20:20 (Ref:2959241) | #8 | ||
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Sorry Kevin, just having a bit of fun.
The thought that somewhere out there, hiding in their room at home perhaps, exists a young, exceptionally talented, accomplished single-seater racing driver who is not only so terminally shy that he wouldn't he allow his mother to nominate him but your staff hadn't heard of him either made me laugh. Looking forward to seeing the finalists! |
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23 Sep 2011, 02:05 (Ref:2959802) | #9 | |||
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Would be good to see as I think it could be a close one this year! |
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25 Sep 2011, 10:18 (Ref:2960600) | #10 | ||
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27 Sep 2011, 22:27 (Ref:2961922) | #11 | ||
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Thanks all for your comments.
It's a debate that is had every year - how much do we give away? I think it would go some way to stopping many of the conspiracy theories, but I know one of the reasons that lots of detail isn't made available is because we want it to be positive for all the finalists and, if someone doesn't do well or has an off day, it might hurt their careers. That's not what we want! I wasn't a judge in 2007 (Wilson), though I was there on one day, but I was in 2009 (Smith). It was a good close contest that year and I am still comfortable with the call we made. |
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28 Sep 2011, 19:47 (Ref:2962274) | #12 | ||
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28 Sep 2011, 20:15 (Ref:2962285) | #13 | ||
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Could you remind me of who you think should've won it the year Dean Smith won?
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28 Sep 2011, 20:33 (Ref:2962293) | #14 | |||
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From an anorak's point of view, I would be interested in seeing a breakdown of each driver's performance, I wouldn't expect it therefore to settle any debate regarding the 'rightful' winner of the award. |
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1 Oct 2011, 17:47 (Ref:2963621) | #15 | |||
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However, I feel that the majority of us would struggle to justify any criticism of the top 6 nominees, as noted by KRT917, just because they under performed on test day. I don't contribute to the prize fund and therefore decisions about result transparency, although hotly debated, remain with contributors. For what its worth, I had Williamson to win last year and, I reckon Scott Malvern's season has put him in a very strong position for the 2011 prize. Be good to see how the tests go though! |
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1 Oct 2011, 21:35 (Ref:2963851) | #16 | ||
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But he will still be at a disadvantage as he has still has limited experience of cars with downforce and if he is fortunate enough to be one of the six finalists he will again be up against drivers from winged formulas such as Formula Renault and possibly (German?) Formula 3. The test is likely to use F2/F3 or GP3 which will favour drivers from Formula Renault/German F3 But whether the results of the tests are made public or not I have faith in the process and knowing the calibre of the juudges of the competition I think we just have to trust them to make the correct decision. Even if the results are published I'm sure some will still take issue with them. Only those who are present can know how the drivers performed and remember previous career results earn them their place but their performance during the assessment decides whether or not they are the winner. Good luck to all six finalists whoever they are! |
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28 Sep 2011, 15:04 (Ref:2962182) | #17 | |
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i can't remember in detail the previous year's coverage but it would be interesting to find out what the winner did, and what the actual positive feedback was for them. would it be reasonable to reveal the other times anonymously perhaps? i suppose at that point it's then up to the individual drivers themselves if they want to say "actually, finalist b was me" or something similar.
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29 Sep 2011, 19:10 (Ref:2962650) | #18 | |
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With your votes, i can become one of the youngest drivers to ever set foot in a formula one car! As part of the McLaren Autosport Award.
This year i have become the youngest formula ford race winner & champion in great britain at 16 years old! With your votes i can be in contention for the award, the winner receiving a full test in a 2011 McLaren Formula 1, Results of 2011 thus far: 1st National FF1600 Championship 1st Northern FF1600 Championship 1st Champion of Oulton FF1600 Series 3rd Triple Crown FF1600 series (with only 4 of 6 rounds attended) With all your votes, this really CAN be achieved!! just email autosport.editorial@haymarket.com with 'nominees' as the subject, and in the message - chris middlehurst!! |
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29 Sep 2011, 20:37 (Ref:2962691) | #19 | ||
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30 Sep 2011, 12:10 (Ref:2962918) | #20 | |||
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Well, you've obviously had one hell of a season!! As John says above and Kevin has confirmed at this stage it's not a vote so just nominate yourself. You only need ONE nomination to be considered. The decision is based on assessment by judges on performance, in and out of the cars, over a number of days. However, the latter stages of the other Autosport awards are voted for by readers so that's when you need to start canvassing. Good luck! |
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1 Oct 2011, 09:18 (Ref:2963358) | #21 | ||
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Really sorry to burst your bubble Chris but voting actually closed Tuesday a week ago and I should think by now the judges have decided or more or less decided who the final six drivers will be. Jason Plato's twitter page earlier in the week said that they were meeting to discuss this very subject. Also you have to consider that FF1600, while being a fantastic place to begin your car racing career and I am a very big fan of it, doesn't really register as one of the eligible championships under consideration which tend to be domestic National Level or European series. Hence UK Formula Renault, European Formula Renault, MSA Formula Ford, Euro Open F3 (Coppa Class), UK International F3 (National Class) & German F3 (Older Spec Cars) are all considered. Now the positives for you. As Flavio says above you have had one hell of year and if you can continue your career in that vain you are bound to register as a future candidate. Also at just 16 you have plenty of time on your side. Congratulations on your fantastic season, good luck in the FF Festival & WHT if you are entering and with the rest of your career |
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6 Oct 2011, 12:17 (Ref:2966609) | #22 | ||
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So the 6 have now been released.....
The big surprise is Emil Bernstorff.... dont you have to be English! It has to be a straight fight between Scott and Alex. Based on available funding during the year my vote would go to Scott. An amazing year by anyones standards. I think if Alex didnt win this year we would still see him racing in F3 or GP3 next year but if Scott doesnt win then we might lose one of this countries best current prospects due to his lack of budget. |
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6 Oct 2011, 12:47 (Ref:2966623) | #23 | |||
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6 Oct 2011, 13:29 (Ref:2966648) | #24 | |
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To be fair to Chris, I think Emil advised the world he was Danish in Formula Ford. And i am sure he was living in Portugal but might be wrong, admittedly living in Portugal doesnt make you less English.
Good Luck to all the guys, for Speed Go for Rowland, for chance to go all the way go for Lynn , for your heart go for Malvern and if your Swedish or Danish go for Tom or Emil. If like me you support British Motorsport, then put your head in your hands and wonder why bother and judging by the current grids not many are, finally the UK FR grids are low, the cost to try to compete in the champiosnhip versus the cost in BARC are comparable why didnt Dino Zamperelli make the step? basically a club driver is now included in the final 6 what does that say , also its a precedent that will need to be accepted going forward. Regards PC |
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6 Oct 2011, 16:38 (Ref:2966725) | #25 | ||
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Maybe a silly question but is Chris Middlehurst something to do with Andy?
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