Lawrence Davey says that he’s overwhelmed after being named as the winner of this year’s Power Maxed MINI Challenge Best of British Award worth £15,000.
Former Legends racer Davey was announced as the winner of the prestigious prize live on stage during the championship’s awards night at the MINI Plant
Oxford last Friday evening. The Best of British Award is made possible through support from series sponsors Corbeau, Forge, Luke, Showtrax, Powerflex, Ryan Motorsport Insurance, Alcon, DNA Tuning and Mintex.
Davey won the prize after coming out on top in a seven-way assessment process at Silverstone, and carrying favour with an all-star judging panel, which included current British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington.
Davey, who finished fourth in the R56 JCW Class points in his second season in the MINI Challenge this year, beat competition from outright Challenge champion Chris Knox, Neil Newstead, Luke Caudle, Henry Duprey, Hamish
Brandon and Cooper Class champion Shane Stoney. Davey now has the choice of a £15,000 budget boost to continue in the R56 JCW Class, a discount of the same amount from the new F56 Challenge car, or a fully funded test in a British Touring Car Championship machine.
“I’m absolutely blown away to have won the Best of British Award,” said Davey.
“The level of competition on the shootout was so high, it’s a real honour to have won it.
“Part of the shootout assessment was to drive some laps with Colin [Turkington] alongside me in the car. To calm myself down I actually pretended he wasn’t there and drove how I usually would. I had a massive slide into Copse but caught it then heard “What a save that was!” from beside me, and that’s when I snapped back into it and realised he was there! It was a great experience to work with a driver to Colin’s calibre.
“I haven’t decided what to do with the prize fund yet. My options for next year were getting quote limited, but having this prize really opens up some doors for me and now a move into the new F56 is very much an option. I can’t thank the MINI Challenge organisers, sponsors and judging panel enough.”
MINI Challenge promoter Antony Williams added: “This year the standard with all of the finalists was very high and it was no easy decision choosing Lawrence as the winner. But the judges felt he offered the best all-round package. It wasn’t just about being the fastest or the fittest, it was about how the driver presents themselves both in the paddock and drives their profile forward with social media. It was about being a great driver and also offering some value back to our partners who have been so generous to supply us with this unique prize. They felt Lawrence was a worthy and deserving winner.”
