Britain's newly crowned World Champion Lewis Hamilton attended an awards lunch at The Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall on Monday to receive the prestigious Segrave Trophy for his record breaking debut Formula 1 season in 2007.
The Segrave Trophy is named in honour of the world land and water speed record holder Sir Henry Segrave and is awarded to a British subject for outstanding achievements in transport on land, water or in the air. Sir Henry Segrave was a fighter pilot during WWI and after the war became the first British driver to win a Grand Prix in a British car. He also set three land speed records and became the first person to travel at over 200mph. While holding the land speed record, he set a new world water speed record in 1930 on Lake Windermere but was tragically killed on the next run when his boat, Miss England II, capsized at speed. Lady Segrave presented the trophy that bears her husband's name to The Royal Automobile Club, to be awarded to those individuals who give the most outstanding demonstration of transport by land, air or water and in doing so show skill, courage and initiative - the spirit of adventure.
Lewis clearly demonstrated these qualities in his debut season in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. In 2007 he surpassed Bruce McLaren's record to become the youngest driver ever to lead the driver's championship, finishing his first season with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team with four wins, five seconds, three thirds, six pole positions and two fastest laps; an outstanding record for any driver but even more so for one in his first season at the pinnacle of the sport.
Lewis, who was presented the 2007 Segrave Trophy by the previous winner Sir Stirling Moss, said: "It gives me great pleasure to be here at The Royal Automobile Club this morning and I want to say a big thank you to the members of the Segrave Trophy Committee for this honour. 2007 was an incredible season for me; I was really thrown into the limelight and into this amazing world. I just tried to do the best job and represent my country the best way I could and even though we didn't win the championship, it was still a fantastic season. I did the job this year and I'm very proud to have won the world championship for the country, for my family and for the team. I'm now going to put this award on my mantelpiece and enjoy it, thank you."
"On behalf of the Royal Automobile Club we are delighted to award the Segrave Trophy to Lewis for his excellent debut season in Formula 1," said Dr. Stephen Hammerton, Chairman of the Segrave Trophy Nominations Committee. "In 2007 Lewis demonstrated the grit and determination of a true champion in the face of fierce competition from some of the best racing drivers in the world. Not only did he surpass everyone's expectations by finishing on the podium twelve times in seventeen races and very nearly winning the world driver's title at his first attempt, he also reignited the British public's interest in the sport. The attributes so clearly demonstrated in 2007 have helped Lewis to the success he richly deserved this season, and I'm sure Sir Henry Segrave, as the first British driver to win a Grand Prix in a British car, would've been the first to acknowledge Lewis' outstanding achievements.
"The Segrave Trophy Roll of Honour stretches back to 1930 and includes luminaries from all forms of endeavours on land, on water and in the air. Lewis Hamilton's name is now added to the list that includes Amy Johnson, Donald Campbell, Sir Stirling Moss, Bruce McLaren, Sir Jackie Stewart and Sir Richard Branson amongst the very special individuals whose names are connected with this impressive, and very unique, trophy. Lewis richly deserves the other awards and plaudits for becoming the youngest ever Formula One World Champion and on behalf of The Royal Automobile Club I congratulate him on this achievement but we, the members of the Segrave Trophy Nominations Committee, wanted to recognise his impressive first season in Formula 1 and it is for this reason Lewis is awarded the 2007 Segrave Trophy."
