Australian motorsport icon Alan Jones has received the Gregor Grant lifetime achievement award.
The 1980 F1 world champion picked up the honour at the Autosport Awards held in London on Sunday night.
After leaving Australia for Europe in 1967, Jones progressed through Formula 3 in the UK before making his F1 debut at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix in a Harry Stiller Racing Hesketh.
Drives with Graham Hill’s Embassy backed team and John Surtees’ outfit followed before he joined Shadow, which yielded his first grand prix victory at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix.
Jones put himself on the map when he teamed up with Williams resulting in a world championship triumph in 1980.
He went on to score 12 grand prix victories during his career and finished third in both the 1979 and 1981 championships.
Jones retired from F1 in 1981 but later made sporadic appearances with Arrows and Haas squads before embarking on a career in sportscars and touring cars in Australia.
“I was very fortunate to join Williams, the best team I’ve ever driven for. They gave me a car that enabled me to do the job,” said Jones, who received the award from FIA World Endurance Champion Mark Webber, the first Australian to win an FIA world championship since his triumph.
“I’m extremely honoured to be here to receive this, because I know there have been some very famous people who have won this award.
“All Aussies have it tough making it, geographically, we’re disadvantaged.
“Making the decision to leave Australia and come to the other side of the world shows you’re fair dinkum about things.”
Jones continues to be involved in motor racing today in his role as a television pundit.