Top awards for Shedden and Franchittiposted in BTCC01 | 12 | 2012
FIFER GORDON SHEDDEN added to his trophy haul when he received the prestigious John Romanes Trophy at the annual Scottish Motor Racing Club awards.
The gala event in Edinburgh was attended by a record sell-out audience complied of 400 of Scotland's leading motorsport figures.
Many of Scotland's top drivers, including Indy500 winner Dario Franchitti and FIA World Endurance champ Ryan Dalziel, also attended the event
Shedden, the 33-year-old from Dalgety Bay, became the first Scot to win the British Touring Car Championship since 1995.
The John Romanes Trophy, won last year by Bathgate ace Franchitti, is awarded to the driver who has displayed 'excellence in motorsport throughout his career'.
"This just caps off a wonderful season," Shedden (pictured), who received his award from '95 BTCC champ, Galashiels' John Cleland, said at the Edinburgh ceremony.
Fifer Gordon Shedden crowned BTCC champ
"I remember as a kid going to Knockhill and watching John racing. That was my inspiration to start motor racing.
"It was never about Formula One, it was always about touring cars. To be BTCC champion is a dream come true, but to win the John Romanes Trophy is the icing on the cake."
Franchitti, the three-time Indy500 winner and four-time IndyCar champ, received the Callands Trophy which is awarded to the Scot who has performed best in an international championship.
"It's a privilege to fly the Saltire around the world and always fantastic to come back to Scotland and support our motorsport heritage," the 39-year-old said.
"Winning the Indy500 for a third time in my career was something I never really expected, and it was certainly the highlight of my year."
A number of other talented Scots received recognition.
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Penicuik's Hugh McCaig, the man behind the famous Ecurie Ecosse team, received the Stewart Medal.
The ebullient Scottish motorsport character oversaw his team as it narrowly missed out on the British GT Championship this year.
Ross Wylie meanwhile, the 21-year-old from Falkirk and in his first season in saloon cars, received the Ecurie Ecosse Hubcap.
The award, an actual hub cap from one of the Ecurie Ecosse Le Mans 24 Hours--winning D-type Jaguars, is given to the most promising young Scottish driver of the year.
Wylie, who made constant improvement throughout his debut season in the Celtic Speed Mini Cooper Championship, finished the season winning the year's two final races.
And Glasgow's Malcolm McNab, was awarded the SMRC Driver of the Year for his performances in the Celtic Speed Mini Cooper Championship.
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Jim McGill