Michelin Formula Renault UK star Lewis Williamson has been announced as one of the six finalists for the prestigious 2010 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. The Scottish driver has been a revelation for Manor Competition this season and currently lies in second place in the championship standings, earning himself the nomination for the most coveted young driver accolade in British Motorsport.
The 20-year-old heads into this weekend's season finale at Brands Hatch with a great chance to take the 2010 crown, thanks to a superb season that has seen him pick up five race victories to date, more than any other driver this season. His excellent season has also seen him pick up three more podium finishes, five pole positions and four fastest laps, with the highlight of his season without doubt a superb double win in front of 120,000 fans at the World Series by Renault meeting at Silverstone.
Williamson's Manor Competition team has a superb history of developing talented young drivers in the Formula Renault series, with the team producing four of the last six winners of the prestigious BRDC award. 2004 award winner Paul Di Resta finished third in Formula Renault the year he won the award, while a year later, Oliver Jarvis won the Formula Renault crown for Manor on his way to picking up the award. The team will be hoping Lewis can pick up the award in 2010 to complete a hat-trick for the team, with 2008 winner and Formula Renault runner up Alexander Sims, as well as 2009 winner and Formula Renault champion Dean Smith, picking up the last two awards thanks to Manor.
The team, based in New Ollerton, is owned and run by husband and wife partnership Tony and Sarah Shaw. Speaking about Lewis' nomination, Tony said: “We're absolutely over the moon for Lewis. He thoroughly deserves his place in the last six of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award and we're delighted yet another Manor Competition driver has made it through the nomination process to the final stage. It proves, once again, we teach drivers the skills they need to succeed at the highest level.
“As far as we're concerned, Will (Stevens) and Ollie (Millroy) should be in there alongside Lewis as they've both driven fantastically well this year and have won races and taken plenty of podiums. Our focus now though is the final two rounds of the Formula Renault UK season. On drop-scores Lewis is only a single point behind the championship lead and Will still has an outside chance too.”
Williamson has to wait a couple of months to find out if he has won the 2010 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, with the winner to be announced on Sunday, 5th December, at the annual Autosport Awards evening in London. As well as earning the prestigious award, Williamson would also win £50,000, full membership of the British Racing Drivers' Club, Puma racewear, a TW Steel watch and a much sought after Formula One test with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Team.
