Touring car stars collect their accolades in end of year awards

Over the weekend, the top drivers in a number of touring car disciplines have collected their championship trophies or other special honours, with José María López picking up his second FIA World Drivers’ trophy at the FIA Gala, and three-time WTCC champion Andy Priaulx picking up a special award from BMW.

Eurosport Events hosted its own Motorsport Awards ceremony on Thursday, recognising the competitors in its own motorsport programmes, with the World Touring Car Championship and European Touring Car Cup the touring car programmes it promotes recognised alongside the European Rally Championship and Motorcycle Endurance World Championship.

“We thought it would make sense to organise a common prize giving ceremony for the four European and world championships we have under the Eurosport Events umbrella,” said head of Eurosport Events Francois Ribeiro. “It was also unique to host the FIA and FIM Presidents together, a very strong and positive message for motorsport.”

José María López collected his prize for winning his second world championship title, with prizes also handed out for the WTCC’s independents’ classification winners, with Hungary’s Norbert Michelisz winning the title for the second time, while France’s Hugo Valente collected Auto Bild’s Golden Wheel award for his qualifying lap at the Nürburgring Nordschleife back in May.

ETCC’s Single-Make Trophy champion Dusan Borkovic picked up his trophy after switching back to the European category after an aborted start in the WTCC this season.

“This is the greatest award for the hard work my team and I put in. I am grateful to my sponsors, fans and media who’s support means a world to me,” said Borkovic.”

“I was thinking a lot about the next season during the prize giving ceremony, because the main goal for us is to return to the world level of racing. I want to be among top drivers in a world championship in 2016, and to be one step closer to the world title, which is my dream. This award motivates me even
more on my path to the world champion.”

On Friday, at the FIA Gala, López and his Citroën team-mates Yvan Muller and Sébastien Loeb, as well as team principal Yves Matton, collected the awards for the top three placings in the FIA World Touring Car Championship drivers’ standings in 2015 as well as the manufacturer trophy, the same attendee list for the second year running.

On the same day, as the BMW Museum, the Bavarian manufacturer was recognising the achievements of its own competitors in 2015.

DTM driver Antonio Felix da Costa was recognised as the Allrounder of the year, with Tom Blomsqvist awarded BMW’s Rookie of the year honour.

Nicky Catburg, also a full-time racer in the WTCC with Lada, was recognised along with team-mates Lucas Luhr and Markus Paltalla for winning the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours race, while a special BMW Sports Trophy Honorary Award was given to Andy Priaulx in recognition of his achievements with the German brand.

Priaulx began racing with BMW in 2003, winning the final season of the European Touring Car Championship in 2004 before becoming a BMW factory driver in 2005 in the World Touring Car Championship, winning the drivers’ title for three consecutive seasons.

Priaulx raced in the DTM for two years after BMW called time on its WTCC programme, and also embarked on sports car programmes in America and Europe, as well as returning to the British Touring Car Championship last season behind the wheel of one of West Surrey Racing’s BMW 1 series, before capping off his season with victory in the Race of Champions Nations Cup at London’s former Olympic Stadium. The Guernsey’s recognition by BMW is a precursor of the 41-year-old’s move to join Ford’s brand new GT programme in 2016.

“Thanks to Andy Priaulx for all he has done for the BMW brand,” said BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt. “His name and his fantastic successes will always remain a part of BMW’s motorsport history. We at BMW support his decision to leave us after so many successful years. We do not want to stand in the way of our drivers should they wish to pursue new challenges. We wish him all the best, and will remain in contact as friends.”