The Portuguese weekly newspaper, Autosport has launched a ballot for its readers to elect the best motorsport driver of the 2001 season. Portuguese driver and French Formula 3 Runner up, Tiago Monteiro, was elected and had the honour of receiving the award during the Autosport gala. Along with the Driver of the Year award, the Car of the Year election was also carried out, and the award was handed to the Renault Laguna with 22 votes. 

Tiago Monteiro has won professional recognition from sport related entities and specialised journalists during the past two years. This time, the Autosport attentive readers elected Tiago Monteiro as 'Driver of the Year' - they had evidently followed avidly Tiago's victories throughout the year. 

"To be elected by the Portuguese readers as the first driver to ever receive the Autosport Driver of the Year Award is not only a privilege but also fills me with great personal pride - an indescribable sensation", enthused Tiago Monteiro who was elected amongst other drivers such as Miguel Campos (Rally), Pedro Lamy (Single Seaters), Adruzilo Lopes (Rally) and Carlos Sousa (Off Road) to name a few. 

Monteiro went on to say: "I know this vote of confidence by the Autosport readers will contribute to the realization of my first goal. This is the fourth such recognition in two years and will prove a great help to me in closing sponsorship deals which will start my 2002 season in the best possible way"  

Last year, Tiago Monteiro was elected by the journalists of the Turbo Magazine as the 2000 Best National Driver and was attributed the "Turbo of the Year", an award of great value, chosen by accredited journalists. Not long after, Monteiro was acknowledged by the "The Sport Foundation of Portugal" with the "Sportsman of the Year" award in motorsports. 
After the 2001 season, where the young driver successfully represented the national colours in tracks abroad, Monteiro was awarded by the Portuguese Motorsport Federation with the "Prestigious Driver of the Year". This fourth and last award from the readers of Autosport has a significant meaning for the Portuguese driver, since by popular demand, he was elected by his fans.