The inaugural Allan Simonsen Memorial Trophy will be awarded later this year, the organisers of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship have announced.
Named in honour of the Danish driver, who died after an accident in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the award be given to the driver who races with pace, humility and good humour, all three of which Simonsen brought to the racing paddocks around the world.
For nearly ten years Simonsen was a fixture in British GT, almost always alongside Hector Lester in the Rosso Verde Ferrari, and his storming qualifying laps (including the one that won what would become his final pole position in the series at Oulton Park) and drives through the pack would become one of the highlights of seasons in the series.
The new award takes its from the design from the star on the side of Simonsen’s crash helmet. Having gained the approval of Allan’s family the awarded was shown to the British GT teams and drivers over the course of the final weekend of the 2013 season at Donington Park.
“Allan was a special driver and a positive figure in the paddock,” said British GT championship manager Benjamin Franassovici. “This award has been created to remember Allan’s greatness and to highlight emerging and established characters from our series. British GT won’t be the same without Allan in the Rosso Verde Ferrari he shared with Hector. This trophy is for the teams and drivers of British GT, it is their trophy to remember Allan with.”
The Allan Simonsen Memorial Trophy will be awarded at the SRO Motorsports Group End of Season Awards in Central London on November 29.
