A number of Kiwis have been recognised for their 2024 accomplishments, be it as an individual or as part of a team, at the annual FIA Awards, held in Kigali, Rwanda, this morning.
Hayden Paddon, John Kennard, Jared Hudson, Nick Cassidy, Mitch Evans and Brendon Hartley were among those celebrated in the star-studded ceremony.
While Cassidy and Evans ultimately fell agonisingly short in the Formula E Driver’s Championship, their team, Jaguar TCS Racing, triumphed in the Manufacturer’s battle.
Team Principal James Barclay was on hand to collect the award before Cassidy and Evans joined him to accept their silverware for finishing third and second in the Driver’s Championship, respectively.
Title winner Pascal Wehrlein was unable to travel to the event under the advice of medical staff following his large crash at last weekend’s Sao Paulo E-Prix, where his car was launched into the wall and left stranded upside down on the track.
Hartley’s World Endurance Championship team, Toyota Gazoo Racing, were celebrated for their Manufacturer’s title success, with vice-chairman Kazuki Nakajima accepting the award.
Car #7 drivers Nyck De Vries and Kamui Kobayashi then joined Nakajima on stage for finishing third in the Driver’s Championship.
Le Mans winners Nicklas Nielsen, Miguel Molina and Antonio Fuoco received their awards as runners-up before Porsche’s Andre Lotterer, Kevin Estre, and Laurens Vanthoor collected their Driver’s Championship trophies.
Paddon leaves Rwanda with a decent haul of silverware as the European Rally Championship (ERC) winner, with co-driver John Kennard also recognised. Hudson was Paddon’s co-driver for the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, while the Kiwi’s BRC Racing Team won the European team’s title.
The Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship winner, Roman Bilinski, was also acknowledged in the official programme.
The 2024 awards ceremony began with Ethan Jeff-Hall, Kenzo Craigie, and Giuseppe Palomba presented with their respective Karting World Championship from McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Toyota Gazoo Racing were honoured with the Champion Manufacturer award from the World Rally Raid Championship before title-winning driver and co-driver Nasser Al-Attiyah and Edouard Boulanger were invited to the stage.
Kristoffersson Motorsport were the World Rallycross Champion Team, with Johan Kristoffersson winning the driver’s title.
The silverware kept coming for Toyota Gazoo Racing, who won the WRC Manufacturer’s Championship.
Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville and his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe were officially crowned WRC champions.
The ceremony concluded with the Formula 1 World Championships being presented, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown joined by drivers Oscar Piastri and Norris on stage to collect the Manufacturer’s Championship.
Charles Lecler, Norris, and Max Verstappen were all on hand to collect awards for finishing third, second, and first in the Driver’s Championship.
Incoming Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto, the 2024 F2 Champion, won the prestigious FIA Rookie of the Year award, which was presented to him by Verstappen.
The FIA awarded Michèle Mouton the Lifetime Achievement Award for her achievements behind the wheel and improving safety.
“I didn’t expect this honour; thank you so much – it’s a great pleasure,” Mouton said.
“I don’t know what to say, just time is going very fast. I’ve spent 50 years of my life in motorsport, 15 years as a rally driver, 20 years organising the Race of Champions and now 15 years with the FIA.
“Today, safety is the most important thing, and I’m happy with all we do with the team at the FIA. Now, I leave the floor to the younger ones, knowing they will continue very well.”
Mouton was on hand to present Neuville and Wydaeghe with the WRC title.
Header Image: FIA
