> Magazine plays host to global prize-giving gala
> GT4 champion Fielding wins Allan Simonsen Award
The stars of SRO Motorsports Group’s domestic, continental and world series have gathered at Magazine in Greenwich, London, this evening for the organisation’s annual black-tie awards ceremony.
Among them were 2022’s Intelligent Money British GT champions who were officially crowned on stage alongside fellow title winners from Europe, Asia and America.
Ian Loggie – GT3’s first solo champion since 2014 – was joined by his team principal Dan Shufflebottom who collected the teams’ trophy on RAM Racing’s behalf.
Richard Williams, Sennan Fielding and Steller Motorsport’s Gary Blackham received their GT4 drivers’ and teams’ awards, while Newbridge’s Matt Topham and Darren Turner – who were narrowly beaten by the Audi duo – picked up Pro-Am silverware for the second season running.
And GT3’s Silver-Am champions, Alex Malykhin and James Dorlin (Redline Racing), were also recognised for their class-winning exploits.
Elsewhere, British GT’s most significant non-title achievement – the Allan Simonsen Award – was presented to Fielding in recognition of his stellar (or should that be Steller?) campaign.
Announced on the night, this trophy is traditionally won by a driver embodying the same speed and spirit that epitomised championship great Simonsen, who tragically lost his life at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2013.
The recipient also tends to be considered British GT’s driver of the season.
Two wins, four individual pole positions, never qualifying outside of the top-three and three new lap records made Fielding this year’s standout candidate, and that was without factoring in his race performances that ultimately swung the title Steller’s way. His daring pass on championship rival Turner at Snetterton and gutsy, decisive stint at the Donington Decider – where he moved from third to first in the live standings – both caught the eye of SRO’s judging panel.
Fielding becomes only the second GT4 driver, and first since Joe Osborne in 2017, to win the award, and joins an illustrious list that includes the likes of Jonny Adam, Nick Tandy and Nicki Thiim.
The Allan Simonsen Award was presented by last year’s recipient and outgoing GT3 champion, Dennis Lind.
Season 31 of the Intelligent Money British GT Championship kicks off at Oulton Park on April 8 & 10.
2022 INTELLIGENT MONEY BRITISH GT CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (TOP-3)
GT3 Drivers’ Championship: Overall
1st – Ian Loggie (RAM Racing, Mercedes-AMG)
2nd – Adam Balon & Sandy Mitchell (Barwell Motorsport, Lamborghini)
3rd – Morgan Tillbrook & Marcus Clutton (Enduro Motorsport, McLaren)
GT3 Teams’ Championship
1st – RAM Racing (Mercedes-AMG)
2nd – Barwell Motorsport (Lamborghini)
3rd – Enduro Motorsport (McLaren)
GT3 Drivers’ Championship: Pro-Am
1st – Ian Loggie (RAM Racing, Mercedes-AMG)
2nd – Adam Balon & Sandy Mitchell (Barwell Motorsport, Lamborghini)
3rd – Morgan Tillbrook & Marcus Clutton (Enduro Motorsport, McLaren)
GT3 Drivers’ Championship: Silver-Am
1st – Alex Malykhin & James Dorlin (Redline Racing, Lamborghini)
2nd – James Kell (Team Rocket RJN, McLaren)
3rd – Simon Watts (Team Rocket RJN, McLaren)
GT4 Drivers’ Championship: Overall
1st – Richard Williams & Sennan Fielding (Steller Motorsport, Audi)
2nd – Matt Topham & Darren Turner (Newbridge Motorsport, Aston Martin)
3rd – Josh Miller & Jamie Day (R Racing, Aston Martin)
GT4 Teams’ Championship
1st – Steller Motorsport (Audi)
2nd – Newbridge Motorsport (Aston Martin)
3rd – R Racing (Aston Martin)
GT4 Drivers’ Championship: Pro-Am
1st – Matt Topham & Darren Turner (Newbridge Motorsport, Aston Martin)
2nd – Aaron Morgan & Bobby Trundley (Team BRIT, McLaren)
3rd – Benji Hetherington (Valluga Racing, Porsche)
GT4 Drivers’ Championship: Silver Cup
1st – Richard Williams & Sennan Fielding (Steller Motorsport, Audi)
2nd – Josh Miller & Jamie Day (R Racing, Aston Martin)
3rd – Tom Edgar (Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, Toyota)