2025 Driver Awards
The recent Awards Night of the BARC North Western Centre the ‘Annual Awards’ were presented to the following recipients
The David Gledhill Driver of the Year, is a driver who has now completed five seasons in our Championship and is another to bring a family dynamic to the paddock. It is fair to say they haven’t had the best racing season, but despite the setbacks they have continued to show great commitment and resilience and might even have been in the mix for overall champion if they hadn’t suffered damage from contact and booked a holiday in the middle of race season. After a major post impact rebuild, our recipient continued to display a pace that generally puts him at the pointy end of the Grid, in a car that he bought a car to take on Paul Masters when he upped the arms race in Class B. This year’s very worthy recipient is Bod Buckby.
The Jock Sinclair Newcomer Award went to a driver who has so far competed in five rounds of our Championship, finishing all of them and without any trips to see the Clerk of Course. Described by one competitor as very kind natured and personable and by another as fiercely competitive and the smiling assassin, this driver isn’t scared to get her elbows out and defend her position, or get her hands dirty in the paddock. Both attributes served her extremely well when things have not gone totally according to plan and also when she made the rookie error of leaving the handbrake on the trailer and destroying the wheel bearings. This year’s very enthusiastic recipient, who we recall was very pleased to beat her brother to the first trophy, is Georgina Bartlett.
The Spirit of the Championship award is our recognition of a driver, team member or team that reflects the best of our Championship. Not necessarily based around on-track performance, previous winners have shown grit and determination in overcoming issues, have gone over and above to help fellow competitors, some have been key in bringing new faces to our Grid and all have contributed in making our paddock what it is. When we had the discussion about this year’s recipient, the name prompted virtually unanimous agreement around the Committee, which is quite a feat in itself!
First around our Championship in 2006 and often present and helping even when they aren’t competing, a bit of research tells us they have probably far in excess of two hundred competitive outings in one form or another. You might say motorsport features heavily and they’ve been around a bit! Always keen to welcome a new face to the Championship, our recipient represents another family affair with their better half always present and heavily involved. Whilst there have been some trials and tribulations in 2025, their positive contribution to our Centre has continued irrespective. This years Spirit of the Championship recipient is Team Allen; Helen and Brian.