The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Seven-time BRDC British F3 Championship race winner Johnathan Hoggard has been confirmed as a finalist for the prestigious Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year award.
The award, which recognises rising stars of British motorsport, has previously been won by Formula One World Champion Jenson Button, triple Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, as well as currently F1 drivers – and BRDC F3 contemporaries – Lando Norris and George Russell.
Weston Hills racer Hoggard, who finished a close second in the 2019 BRDC F3 championship and won the Sunoco Whelen Challenge for a drive at the Daytona 24 Hours in January, is in the final four for a prize that includes a £200,000 cash prize, a test in a Red Bull Racing F1 car, a test in an Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE, full membership of the British Racing Drivers Club, and an Arai helmet.
To win that, Hoggard has to demonstrate the sort of adaptability and performance that has marked him out as a championship contender in both F3 and British F4.
After undergoing a series of simulator and fitness tests at Red Bull Racing’s headquarters, the talented racer will take part in a two-day test at Silverstone driving a MotorSport Vision Formula 2 car, a Ligier LMP3 and an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 car.
His performances will be judged by a panel that includes previous award winners Darren Turner, Andrew Kirkaldy and Alexander Sims, as well as BRDC chairman Derek Warwick and multiple BTCC champion Jason Plato.
Hoggard will be competing against W Series champion Jamie Chadwick, Japanese F3 racer Enaam Ahmed, and F3 rival Ayrton Simmons with the winner of the award being confirmed at the Autosport Awards on Sunday, December 8.
A delighted Hoggard said: “I am thrilled to be announced as one of the four finalists.
“It’s an honour to be put forward for this prestigious award that has been claimed by so many great drivers.
“I can’t thank the BRDC, Autosport, Aston Martin and Red Bull enough for this great opportunity.”
