DECEMBER 3, 2007

A Hamilton-fest in London

It was no big surprise that the Autosport Awards were dominated by Lewis Hamilton. The youngster picked up three awards as Best International Racing Driver, Best British Competition Driver and Rookie of the Year. Hamilton was presented with one of the awards by Viviane Senna, sister of Lewis™s hero Ayrton Senna. She flew from Sao Paulo to congratulate Britain™s racing star.

"He reminds me of Ayrton, as a pilot. And he has the same kindness in his eyes," she said.

The International Rally Driver award went to Marcus Grnholm, who narrowly missed out on this year™s championship and has announced his intention to retire. Jason Plato was voted National Racing Driver of the Year and Dario Franchitti was honoured for winning the IndyCar championship and Indy 500. Tribute was paid to rally driver Colin McRae who was killed in September.

The 2007 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award for a rising star of British motorsport went to 18 year-old Stefan Wilson, who wins a test drive with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and $100,000 towards his career, as well as membership of the British Racing Drivers Club and a one-off Graham Chronograph Swordfish timepiece.

Wilson, the brother of Champ Cart star Justin Wilson, finished second in the Formula Palmer Audi championship in his debut season of single-seater racing.