PIASTRI HONOURED WITH SIR JACK BRABHAM AWARD
Oscar Piastri honoured with Sir Jack Brabham Award – Image: Supplied
After winning the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship, Australian Oscar Piastri has been honoured as the latest recipient of the prestigious Sir Jack Brabham Award.
By DAN McCARTHY
The award presented by Motorsport Australia is given to an Australian Motor Racing competitor at the international level and recognises the achievements they accomplished during the season.
Past winners include IndyCar Series winner Will Power, F1 race winner Daniel Ricciardo, NASCAR Cup Series winner Marcus Ambrose and his manager and multiple-time Grand Prix winner Mark Webber.
“To win this award is a massive honour. Not just because of the award in general, but also having Sir Jack’s name attached to it. It’s very special,” Piastri said.
“Knowing everything he has achieved is in the sport such as his three world championships and running his own successful team, it means a lot.
“It’s also very cool to have my name amongst the previous winners. To be recognised in that calibre of drivers and amongst those names is very special.
“Winning the award is one of those things where it’s a real honour to have it on your CV. It’s cool to get the award and it’s only going to bring good things for my career.
“It’s nice to have my hard work and success from F3 recognised so a big thank you to Motorsport Australia for giving me this honour.”
In the current edition of Auto Action on sale now, Piastri chats with Mark Fogarty in the latest instalment of Up Front with Foges.
Hot off the back of winning the Formula Renault Eurocup series in 2019, Piastri joined Prema Racing for the 2020 F3 Championship, racing against some of the best young open-wheel drivers from around the world.
During the competitive nine round Formula 3 season Piastri took two race wins and a further four podiums to take the title by three points.
Following on from becoming the first Aussie to win the third-tier F1 series the Victorian was rewarded with a test drive in a Renault Formula 1 car and confirming his seat with Prema for the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship.
Piastri was presented the Sir Jack Brabham Award by Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca.
Motorsport Australia President Andrew Fraser congratulated Piastri on the prestigious honour.
“After a such a strong season, Oscar is a very worthy recipient of the prestigious Sir Jack Brabham Award,” Fraser said.
“Oscar was a shining light in 2020 and we all know that he has a bright future ahead of him, and this award is proof of the high regard in which he is already held here in Australia.
“I wish him all the best for his maiden season in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and look forward to watching on from afar, along with the rest of Australia who will be cheering him on in 2021.”
Piastri begins his FIA Formula 2 Championship campaign with testing next month before the eight-round season gets underway at the Bahrain Grand Prix on 27-28 March.
List of Sir Jack Brabham Award Winners
2020: Oscar Piastri
2018: Will Power
2017: Matthew Campbell
2014: Daniel Ricciardo
2012: David Brabham
2011: Tony Gaze, DFC & Two Bars, OAM
2009: Marcos Ambrose
2009: Mark Webber AO
2007: Will Power
2006: Cody Crocker
2006: Ben Atkinson
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