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Gordon Brown leads tributes to Jenson Button and BRDC award Winners

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Prime Minister Gordon Brown led the tributes today at the BRDC Annual Awards Luncheon in London as he presented Jenson Button with one of his awards.

Taking place at the InterContinental Hotel in Park Lane racing stars from around the world gathered to be honoured by the British Racing Drivers Club.

Picking up a total of four awards Jenson Button also joined Sir Stirling Moss and fellow British F1 World Champions Sir Jackie Stewart OBE and Damon Hill OBE for a brief photo call.

“We have a world champion in whom we have so much pride,” said Gordon Brown as he presented Buttons award, “who fought back against all the odds, who achieved something when some people thought at the beginning of the season it was impossible: Jenson, the whole country is proud of you. You are a brilliant ambassador for British sport.”

He went on to add “It is a particular privilege for me to be here on the day when we are announcing that Silverstone, the first racing track to have a world championship race in 1950, will now have for another seventeen years the British Grand Prix. I believe that all those who have contributed to that success and to that announcement today deserve our praise. It puts Britain right at the centre of world racing for seventeen years to come. Thank you all for what you've achieved.”

Button was joined by fellow 2009 champion Dario Franchiti who took the IndyCar series title this year along with Jason Plato receiving the BRDC's highest national racing accolade, the BRDC Silver Star.

Both Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were absent in picking up their awards but fellow F1 race winner Mark Webber was present, picking up the Innes Ireland and Bruce McLaren trophies.

Ross Brawn and Adrian Newey were recognised for the parts they played in this years season with Brawn taking the Colin Chapman Trophy (awarded to an individual who has shown great team spirit) and Newey the Sir Jacksy Stewart award (presented to a motor sport engineer who has shown brilliance during the course of the season).

A brand new award was also introduced this year bearing the name of the late Henry Surtees who sadly lost his life at Brands Hatch earlier this year; The award recognised the most outstanding performance by a BRDC Rising Star, being picked up by Daniel Ricciadro.

2009 BRDC ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS

BRDC GOLD STAR JENSON BUTTON

First presented in 1929. The BRDC Gold Star is awarded annually.

BRDC GOLD STAR DARIO FRANCHITTI

First presented in 1929. The BRDC Gold Star is awarded annually.

BRDC SILVER STAR JASON PLATO

The national equivalent of the BRDC Gold Star.

Sponsored by Tesco99.

THE BRUCE McLAREN TROPHY MARK WEBBER

Awarded to the Commonwealth Driver who has established the most meritorious performances in international motor racing.

Sponsored by Transport Research Labs.

THE CHRIS BRISTOW TROPHY DEAN SMITH

Awarded to the winner of the BRDC McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award.

Sponsored by HSBC Private Bank.

THE COLIN CHAPMAN TROPHY ROSS BRAWN

A BRDC Special Award presented to an individual who has shown great team spirit, be it a driver, team owner, engineer or similar.

Sponsored by Lotus Group Plc.

THE EARL HOWE TROPHY DARIO FRANCHITTI

Awarded to the highest placed British Driver in the Indy 500 race, or to the British driver who has established the most meritorious performance of the year in North America.

Sponsored by Cambridge Business Travel.

THE ERA CLUB TROPHY JENSON BUTTON

Awarded to the British Driver who, driving a British car, established the most meritorious performance of the year outside the UK.

Sponsored by AC Entertainment.

THE FAIRFIELD TROPHY DAVID BRABHAM

Awarded for an outstanding performance by a BRDC Member.

THE GRAHAM HILL TROPHY JENSON BUTTON

Awarded to the British Driver for the most meritorious performance in single-seater racing.

Sponsored by Henri Lloyd.

THE INNES IRELAND TROPHY MARK WEBBER

Awarded to the driver who best displayed the qualities of courage and sportsmanship epitomized by the late Innes Ireland.

Sponsored by Deutsch UK.

THE JOHN COBB TROPHY LEWIS HAMILTON MBE

Awarded to a British Driver, driving a British car, who has achieved success or successes of outstanding character.

THE JOHN COOPER TROPHY DANIEL RICCIARDO

Awarded annually to a competitor within the British F3 Championship who has shown potential to become a future World Champion.

Sponsored by BDO.

THE JOHNNY WAKEFIELD TROPHY SEBASTIAN VETTEL

Awarded to the driver setting the fastest race lap of the season on the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.

Sponsored by Casio.

THE NIGEL MOORES TROPHY TEAM RAC (West Surrey Racing)

Awarded to the private entrant who has established the most meritorious performance(s) in international motor racing.

Sponsored by Jaguar Cars Ltd.

THE RICHARD SEAMAN TROPHY JENSON BUTTON

Awarded to the winner of the Gold Star points scoring system.

Sponsored by EFG International.

THE SILVERSTONE-LE MANS CHALLENGE JAN CHAROUZ, TOMAS ENGE and STEFAN MUCKE

Awarded to the driver/s who achieved the highest combined finishing record in combined results of the Silverstone LMS race and the Le Mans 24-Hour Race.

Sponsored by Gulf.

THE SIR JACKIE STEWART AWARD ADRIAN NEWEY

Awarded to a motor sport engineer who has shown brilliance during the course of the season.

THE SPENCER-CHARRINGTON TROPHY MAX CHILTON

Awarded to the highest-placed British Driver in the British F3 Championship.

Sponsored by Autocourse.

THE WOOLF BARNATO TROPHY JONNY KANE

Awarded to the highest-placed finishing British and/or Commonwealth Driver, in a British car, in the Le Mans 24-Hour Race.

Sponsored by Team Modena.

THE ACO AWARD ALLAN McNISH

Presented on behalf of our friends at the ACO, the award is presented to the highest-placed British Driver finishing the Le Mans 24-Hour Race.

Sponsored by Mike Fairholme Designs.

THE HENRY SURTESS AWARD DANIEL RICCIARDO

Awarded annually for the most outstanding performance by a Rising Star.

Photo Credit: BRDC

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Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Checkered Flag who grew up visiting race circuits around the UK also a freelance motorsport PR officer. Outside of motorsport a lover of music, photography, NBA and NFL.
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