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TEAM BRM TOTAL OILS driver Ben Barker has been awarded the inaugural Michelin Australia Sportsperson of the year award at the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Australia awards night, in Sydney.
The British driver was awarded a $25,000 subsidy towards his 2012 tyre costs in the one-make Porsche championship as the driver determined to best represent Michelin’s core values of safety, performance and respect.
The award was provided by series tyre supplier and sponsor Michelin and nominated by series Driver Standards Observer Cameron McConville.
Barker was understandably delighted to receive the prestigious award and to be recognised for his impressive rookie season in the competitive Porsche ranks – where he was one of six different outright race winners this season.
“I’m properly surprised by this,” Barker admitted on receiving the monster cheque from the Michelin Man and company press manager, Jane Rowe – and the famous Michelin Man.
“This is a massive thing for Michelin to do and I have to thank them for putting up the award.
“I was a new driver to Porsche racing with a new team to Porsche racing and it’s been a learning year. We have been very fast and even though it didn’t end the way we wanted, it was great to get some wins on the board this weekend and show what the team and I were capable of.
“To be recognised for my debut season like this by Michelin Australia and a hugely respected driver like Cameron is amazing. I’m dead happy!”
Michelin Australia Managing Director, Thierry Martin, congratulated Ben and said Michelin was proud to recognise his performance this year.
“Michelin strives to deliver sustainable mobility, whilst up holding our values of safety, performance and respect,” said Mr Martin.
“The Michelin Australia Sportsperson of the Year award is not just about racing performance, but about their behaviour and attitude on and off the track. The winner is a driver who, at all times, drives safely and cleanly.
“We are keen to reward those drivers who have the balance of performance and safety, I congratulate Ben for achieving this in 2011.”
Barker also received high praise from now three-time series champion Craig Baird, who said watching the development of the 21-year-old's performance was a highlight of his season too.
“Ben is a fantastic young guy with a great team around him, who completely support him, and it’s been great to watch him develop as a driver this season,” Baird said.
“It is great that he was able to get some wins on the board this weekend and I really hope he comes back next year, though I might regret saying that because he’s super quick.
“But watching him grow as a young guy coming into the series has been a highlight.”
The award made up for a frustrating end to a weekend of domination from the TOTAL Oils Porsche, Barker winning two of the three races held at the Sydney Telstra 500 Event but crashing out of the third whilst leading.
As the wet conditions also caught out title rivals Daniel Gaunt and Craig Baird, Barker came to grief on the slippery circuit when he ran wide at turn five and clouted the wall with the right rear of the Team BRM Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car.
The impact, just two laps from home, broke a rear suspension upright on the Porsche and ended his race and any hope of a round win.
Still, his two wins from the first two races were executed in convincing fashion and ended a strong season showing that the combination could win races regularly.
Team BRM – TOTAL Oils enter the off season with one of the fastest Porsche’s in the pack, their strong season having netted two pole positions, three quickest laps and two wins from the seven rounds and 21 races.
Barker also finished fifth outright in the Porsche City Index Carrera Cup Championship.
The team is working on expanding their program in season 2012 to include at least two cars.
