Jenson Button awarded Hawthorn Memorial Trophy

By Phil Huff
July 6 2007

Honda Racing F1's Jenson Button was presented with the coveted Hawthorn Memorial Trophy at Silverstone in recognition of his outstanding performances in 2006. The Hawthorn Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the most successful British or Commonwealth driver in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

It was first presented by the Hawthorn family in memory of Mike Hawthorn, who became Britain's first Formula One World Champion in 1958 but tragically died a year later.

Jenson has previously won the trophy in 2004 and 2005. Following the success of the Honda RA106 last year, especially in the latter half, the trophy has been awarded to the Frome racer once again for 2006.

Current Red Bull racer David Coulthard had won the trophy previously, with five wins from 1998 to 2003, apart from 1999 where Eddie Irvine took the title. No other current driver has won the award, although Nigel Mansell holds the record for most wins, with his name appearing seven times on the stunning silverware.

The 2007 award, to be awarded in July 2008, looks likely to be heading towards Stevenage, home town of Lewis Hamilton.