DECEMBER 08 - VITESSE PRESENT FAIRFIELD TROPHY AT BRDC AWARDSDECEMBER 08 - VITESSE PRESENT FAIRFIELD TROPHY AT BRDC AWARDS
DECEMBER 08 - VITESSE PRESENT FAIRFIELD TROPHY AT BRDC AWARDS
NEWCASTLE born racing driver Rob Bell has been honoured alongside Lewis Hamilton at one of the sport’s top awards ceremonies.
 
GT Championship sports car driver Bell was awarded The Fairfield Trophy for an outstanding performance at the British Racing Drivers’ Club, BRDC, annual awards luncheon.
 
This represents another highlight in a highly successful season for Bell, who won the Le Mans series GT2 category in a Ferrari 430 for the second year running.
 
The glittering awards ceremony, held at the Café Royal in London, was also attended by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who awarded Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton the Richard Seaman Trophy.
 
Rob Bell said: “It was a fantastic day at the awards. There was everyone involved in British Motor Sport for the past 60 years there and it was brilliant just to be in amongst it, let alone winning an award. It was particularly good to get that award from Vitesse, because it’s a North East company which is where I’m from and a region I love.’’
 
Bell’s trophy was sponsored by County Durham-based Vitesse Supercar Club. The club has a fleet of supercars for the exclusive use of its members: these include marques such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bentley and Porsche.
 
Vitesse Supercar Club said: “I think it’s great that Rob’s success on the international stage has been recognized with such a prestigious award and we are even more delighted that Vitesse were able to be involved in presenting the award.
 
“Vitesse has very close links with the racing world and we have followed Rob’s career since his days in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Renault. Vitesse club members have enjoyed a behind-the-scenes view at some great events this year including the Monaco Grand Prix, British Grand Prix and Le Mans 24 Hour Race where coincidently Rob gave our members an impromptu tour of his Ferrari GT car and pit garage.
 
“We certainly think that Rob will continue to fly the North East flag at the highest levels in the sport next season.’’