LUCIANO Bacheta has beaten off competition from the likes of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton to scoop the prestigious John Cobb Trophy.
The reigning Formula Two champion was given the gong at the British Racers' Driving Club Awards on Sunday which is given to a British Driver, driving a British car, who has achieved success or successes of outstanding character.
This season the Brentwood driver, 22, secured a record-breaking four consecutive wins and finished 21.5 points clear of the field.
Former F1 champion Button was last year's holder, and previous winners also include legends such as Sterling Moss and Graham Hill.
"Pretty much every successful British driver has won this," he said.
"I didn't know much about the award but when I picked it up and saw the names it was amazing. I hope I can look back on it and win it again. I hope I can do it and the names on it justice. I hope when someone else wins it in 20 years time that they look at my name and think 'wow he's on it'."
And what of finishing pole ahead of certain F1 stars?
"It's weird to think of it like that actually," he said. "For me to get it is pretty special."
He doesn't get to the trophy though, as the original stays with the BRDC, and he's given a mini replica.
"It's pretty heavy anyway," he said.
"I became a full member of the BRDC a couple of weeks ago which gives me access and passes to all sorts of things."
Last week the former Sawyers Hall College pupil was racing in India the MRF Challenge.
He finished second and third in the first two races but his car broke down in the third race and he was knocked off in the final stage.
He is likely to return to the sub continent in February for the last round of that competition and continues to asses his options for next season.
