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In a season filled with great racing and bold performances
at MSV circuits and in MSV-run championships, we've
picked ten motorsport heroes from a fantastic 2014.
The drivers and riders on this list, which appears in
alphabetical order, have helped make this year a vintage one
for MSV. Many have won races and
championships, wowing the crowds along the
way. Everyone featured here will have much to
celebrate over the holiday season.
Marco Attard and Alexander Sims
The British GT Championship is one of the hardest-fought of all
national championships, with driving crews often unable to win more
than two races in a season. The Ecurie Ecosse pairing took just two
wins, but by mid-season they were the runaway leaders in the title
standings. Sims was unable to race at Snetterton, and this meant
that he missed out on the overall championship, which Attard
claimed, despite retiring from the final round.
The pairing will be back next year and Sims, a BMW star
driver, is determined to claim the title that got away. Johnny
Cocker also deserves an honourable mention for stepping in to take
Sims' place at the Norfolk circuit.
Shakey Byrne
Shakey was almost unstoppable in the early part of the 2013 MCE
Insurance British Superbike Championship, but lost out to Alex
Lowes in the Showdown.
There was a chance that history would repeat itself in
2014 when, after another period of domination by the Kent
rider, Ryuichi Kiyonari provided a late challenge to his
supremacy, but the matter was settled at the Brands Hatch finale.
Kiyo may have sidelined himself with injury, but Shakey won
the 'War for Four' titles in style, taking the record for the most
BSB championships.
Billy McConnell
McConnell beat British Supersport pacesetter Alister Seeley by
just four points, securing a return to the MCE British Superbike
Championship, which the Aussie last contested in 2008.
McConnell's closest title rival wasn't Seeley, but Smiths
Triumph team-mate Graeme Gowland, and when the latter crashed out
of the Brands Hatch finale at Druids, only Seeley could stop
McConnell. Seeley did all he could and took the final win of the
season in the closely-contested class, but eighth place was enough
for McConnell to take the title for the first time after seven
seasons of trying.
Jolyon Palmer
Jolyon became the first Englishman to win the GP2 title since
Lewis Hamilton, and what better reminder of this than winning it in
the year that Lewis took his second Formula 1 crown?
Jolyon's record-breaking performance earned him two
prestigious awards from the Guild of Motoring Writers and the BRDC,
as well as a hugely impressive maiden F1 test with Force India at
Abu Dhabi, where he lapped just four-thousands of a second shy of
vice-champion Nico Rosberg.
George Russell
The second BRDC Formula 4 Champion was fast from his very first
race since graduating from karting, carrying this form throughout
the season. He also proved to be quick in GP3 and F3 testing after
he had taken the title.
George's profile entered
the stratosphere when he was announced as the winner of
the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, earning him
£100,000 for his second season in cars and a coveted McLaren
F1 test drive. He's proof that BRDC F4 is the first
step on the ladder to motor racing stardom and
is definitely one to watch for the future.
Toby Sowery
Whilst George Russell was impressing in BRDC F4, another
promising karting graduate was tasting success in the F3 Cup
Championship, in a year in which the series became Britain's
leading championship for Formula 3 class cars.
Sowery won eight races, dominating all but three of the meetings
that he entered, to wrap up the title at Silverstone. He then won
races in the MRF series in India against a host of promising
international drivers and could yet prove to be a star of the
future.
Mat Summerfield
Mat took his third consecutive British Truck Racing Division One
title at the championship's Brands Hatch finale after perhaps
the toughest challenge to his supremacy yet. The MAN domination of
the top class was challenged by the ex-works Renault of Chris
Levett, a combination that would frequently prove too quick for
Summerfield.
The reigning champion wasn't ready to relinquish his crown,
however, and a combination of racecraft and consistency kept
him in touch. This alllowed him to convert a handy advantage
to secure the title in the penultimate race. Could a fourth title
be on the cards in 2015?
Colin Turkington
With eight wins, Colin was the class of a very strong British
Touring Car Championship field in 2014. His dominant
performance ensured that he put the title beyond doubt with
two rounds to spare, despite a late attack from MG's Jason
Plato.
There are several changes to next year's BTCC field, with
Sam Tordoff switching to WSR and Jason Plato unlikely to stay
with MG. Colin's place in the championship-winning team is
uncertain at present, but it's hoped that he will be back to defend
his title next year.
Ander Vilarino
The Spanish double NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion took his
fourth career win at Brands Hatch last June, and his third American
SpeedFest race victory. He beat Anthony Kumpen to the line by just
half a second after fending off his rival's attacks to take a
lights-to-flag win.
The previous day Ander had finished in third place behind
Eddie Cheever III but was lining up an attack on the lead when the
race was neutralised by the safety car, which remained on track
until the chequered flag. The season ended with Vilarino just
missing out on his third consecutive championship, losing to Kumpen
by just a single point.
Alex Zanardi
Alex's place amongst sporting legends is assured, but this
hasn't stopped him from continuing an already stellar career. Not
content with championship titles in motorsport and handcycling, the
Italian is combining racing a BMW GT in the Blancpain GT Series and
defending handcycling titles on his way to the 2016 Rio
Paralympics.
Alex showed that he's still got it at Brands Hatch, taking
fifth place in the main Blancpain Sprint race just one week after
claiming yet another handcycling medal. A special mention should
also go to Hari Proczyk/Jeroen Bleekemolen, who won both
races that day.
You can watch many more heroes on track in
2015 with MSV's range of Season Passes, available from
£89. Click here for
more information or to purchase a pass.
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