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For
immediate release
November 26, 2000
Mark
Webber signed off a momentous few weeks in his career when he received the
prestigious Bruce McLaren Award from TAG McLaren Group boss, Ron Dennis, at the
annual BRDC (British Racing Drivers' Club) Awards ceremony at London's Grosvenor
House yesterday, November 25.
It's
second time that Webber, who was recently announced as Benetton's test driver
for 2001, has won the award which is presented for the most meritorious
performance by a Commonwealth driver. Past winners of the award include New
Zealanders, Denny Hulme and Mike Thackwell, Canadians Paul Tracey and Jacques
Villeneuve and fellow Australians Alan Jones, Tim Schenken, Vern Schuppan, Geoff
and David Brabham. The imposing silver cup was originally awarded to Bruce
McLaren for his second place in the 1965 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport but was
later presented to the BRDC as a perpetual memorial trophy by McLaren's widow,
Pat.
Webber,
who finished third in this year’s FIA International F3000 Championship,
commented, "It's nice to receive an award from my peers as a way of their
acknowledgment of my efforts in 2000. Britain is the home of the international
motorsport industry, so to win an award here is very special."
Webber
joined a number of top international drivers at the ceremony, including British
stars, David Coulthard and Jenson Button, who both scooped a number of awards,
with Coulthard collecting the BRDC Gold Star.
The evening was also attended by Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir
Frank Williams, Jackie Stewart, Ron Dennis, Ken Tyrrell, Martin Brundle, Gil de
Ferran and David Brabham, as well as three of Britain's Olympic gold medallists
from the Sydney 2000 Games, Stephanie Cook, Audley Harrison and Richard Faulds.
Webber begins work with Benetton this week when he flies to Monaco to participate in a four day fitness camp before returning to the UK for a one day test at Silverstone on Friday (December 1).
- Ends -
For further media information, please contact:
Ann Neal
PO Box 478, Aylesbury, Bucks, England HP19
0DA
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e-mail: webber@globalnet.co.uk
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