 News from the Autosport Awards Monday December 3rd, 2001
Sir Stirling Moss said he was more excited by the prospect of the all-British scrap for the World Rally Championship than modern Formula One when he appeared on stage at the annual Autosport magazine awards in London on Sunday. The legendary English racing driver confessed his private thoughts when he said: "Quite seriously, I must say I am more impressed by the rallying than by Formula One...I understand Formula One and Formula Two and so on, of course, but these rallying people are seriously mad." Moss was on stage at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane to present Scot David Coulthard with his first award of the night, as British Competition Driver of the Year. Montoya Mania Juan Pablo Montoya received loud cheers from the 1,200 guests at the ceremony each time his name was mentioned - proof, certainly, that he is a more popular driver than any other in Formula One at present. Even Coulthard could not raise much enthusiasm and one source close to the Scot said that he was "in a foul mood" - an impression hardened by his terse answers and unsmiling appearances on the stage. When the contenders for the International Racing Driver of the Year were announced, the support for the Colombian outstripped that for all other drivers including the winner, Michael Schumacher, who was absent. The world Champion's award was collected by Ferrari media relations officer Claudio Berro. Dennis Left Speechless Ron Dennis appeared to be humbled and almost silenced by the award of a British Racing Drivers' Club gold medal for his services to the sport in Britain, particularly in his efforts to salvage the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. "If my efforts contributed anything, it's been a pleasure," said Dennis.
Damon Hill paid an emotional tribute to his close friend George Harrison when he appeared on stage. Speaking just three days after the death of the much-loved former Beatle, the 1996 Drivers' Champion recalled him as a great supporter of motor racing. His words prompted many memories of Harrison in the Formula One paddock, none more so than his interventions during the post-race brouhaha at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix. Hill, sporting a beard and long tied-back hair, looked like Harrison and prompted many people to draw comparisons. Hill said: "I think we all know that George was a member of the Beatles and many of us also saw him as a very good friend of motor racing, too. He was often to be seen rambling around the Formula One paddocks for several years and he enjoyed it. I am sure a lot us who knew him in Formula One were very touched by him and his enthusiasm and support for the sport." Andretti Amazed by British Support Mario Andretti made a special appearance to present Frank Williams with the coveted Gregor Grant Award at the Autosport evening after dropping into London to promote a book. When asked about his feelings towards Britain and British motor racing, said Andretti: "I was surprised at the book shop because I expected to see about four people and that was it. "But there was a very generous crowd and it reminded me never to forget that Britain is the bastion of motor racing. I still get a lot of fan mail from Britain. For me, it is great to know that people have not forgotten and sometimes, too, I was surprised. People came in for autographs with old news cuttings and so on - and a lot of them were yellow now! But it was still wonderful."
Frank Williams admitted that he felt thrilled by the way in which new Formula One sensation Juan Pablo Montoya had tackled his job in aggressive style. "He is our kind of driver and it is brilliant to see the way Juan does it," said Williams. "He is our sort of guy. Patrick and I love the oversteer and there is a lot of that with Juan." Williams admitted he would trade all his previous 16 Constructors' and Drivers world titles for just one more and said he hoped his team would mount a serious title challenge in 2002. But he added that Ferrari would be formidable opponents and joked that Ron Dennis "has been the bane of my life since he got started." Williams also heaped praise on Head for his clever design work, adding that success in racing was down to 80 per cent engineering and that Head "was outstanding in this area and a great competitor too." Rider Running The Gags The entire Autosport evening was hosted by British television presenter Steve Rider, who used two running jokes to hold the event together. One was the controversy over where world rally drivers' champion Richard Burns would be next season and the other was a constant jibe at ITV and Channel Four for poaching BBC's traditional sports. Burns, who won the championship with Subaru, has signed for the triumphant manufacturers' title winners Peugeot, but the Japanese outfit claim to have a clause in their contract with Burns that allows them to keep him to defend his title if he was champion. ITV F1 commentator Martin Brundle said he would take whichever of the two drives Burns eventually turned down and then, in an exchange with Rider which lit up the evening, emerged triumphant from a few seconds of sharp verbal sparring. Asked, by Rider, if he would be the number one ITV F1 commentator in succession to the retired Murray Walker, Brundle evaded a clear answer in deference to the feelings of his co-commentator James Allen. When pressed, he did the same, before Rider suggested that they compare their Grand Prix victories which would show it was a close-run thing (Brundle never having won a race in Formula One). Brundle responded: "So let's ask about your Royal Society of Television awards now, shall we?" A riposte that referred to his own success this year with ITV. Once on the attack, Brundle moved in for the kill by reminding Rider that he remembered their first meeting when he was a young driver and Rider interviewed him for Anglia television in Norfolk. "I was just a kid then," he said. "But you still do a bit of TV work don't you? Or do you?" he said, finishing off the defeated Rider who sportingly grinned as he was grilled. "Well we're very nearly finished now, and that goes for my career as well as this evening," said Rider, smoothly, ever professional, as he conceded defeat.
Published at 13:48:11 GMT
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Moss Amazed by Ralliers
Hill Pays Tribute To Harrison
Montoya Fitting in at Williams
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