2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series runner-up Tim Blanchard has received the Mike Kable Young Gun Award at the V8 Supercar Gala Awards ceremony.
V8 Supercars’ night of nights is being held at the Sydney Convention Centre in Darling Harbour.
Rookie drivers in either the Fujitsu Series or V8 Supercar Championship Series can be bestowed with the honour of the Young Gun Award, with the winner selected by a panel of experts.
The award is named after one of Australia’s most respected motoring journalists, Mike Kable, who passed away in 2000.
Motoring editor at The Australian newspaper for almost 30 years, Kable also competed in the Bathurst 1000 on multiple occasions, and is fondly remembered for his encouragement of young media and driving talent.
Twenty-three year old Blanchard made his debut in the Fujitsu Series in 2010 with Sonic Motor Racing Services – winning the Townsville round in just his fourth start.
Blanchard also made his V8 Supercar Championship Series debut at Phillip Island’s L&H 500 in September, partnering Greg Murphy at Paul Morris Motorsport.
“It was a year of ups and downs for me,” said Blanchard upon receiving the award.
“It means a lot to win the Mike Kable Young Gun Award because Mike Kable was a guy who lived motorsport and backed young drivers.”
It is the second year in a row that a Sonic Motor Racing Services driver has won the Mike Kable Young Gun Award, after James Moffat took out the honour in 2009.