2011 MINI CHALLENGE AWARDS

The 2011 MINI Challenge Awards ceremony was held at the Whittlebury Hall Hotel near Silverstone circuit where the season started back in April. After dinner the evening’s action started with the, now traditional, video round up of the season’s action to cheers and groans in all the right places.

 
First up was Sam Osborne, who was awarded a special trophy for ‘Most Improved Driver’ of the season, from only one season in Club Class his performance in the JCW Class has greatly impressed and 2012 will surely see him get his maiden win.
Patrick Mortimer took the Best Novice award with a very noisy table of enthusiastic supporters, Patrick had some stellar drives in the wet at Oulton and Anglesey, a great first season.
Sadly Dean Raymond was unwell and could not collect his 3rd place Club class award, but as a fellow Club class driver, MSN Racing editor Rob Ladbrook was on hand to collect Dean’s award on his behalf. Patrick Mortimer was back on the podium for a second time to collect the award for 2nd overall in Club class, giving his supporters club another opportunity to test their voices. Antony Whorton Eales deservedly received the Club class champion award, he stamped his authority on the class early in the season and never looked back, a deserving and popular victor.
The JCW Class awards and Overall MINI Challenge podium was identical. Luke Caudle took 3rd place, Luke’s challenge for the title came to a sudden end when he was collected in an accident at the last meeting. Luke is leaving the MINI Challenge and we all wish him luck for 2012. In second place was the 2010 Champion Lee Allen, sadly Lee couldn’t be at the awards in person and Rod Ladbrook collected his awards. First in JCW Class and Overall MINI Challenge Champion was Scotsman, Chris Knox. Supported by an incredibly noisy bunch of supporters he was awarded the recently recovered original ‘John Cooper Challenge’, now MINI Challenge, trophy.
Dancing commenced, group photos became more outrageous, the wine flowed and everyone had a great time………… the MINI Challenge at it’s best, as always.