Mike Kable Young Gun Award
| Mike Kable Young Gun Award | |
|---|---|
| Description | Best young driver in V8 Supercars. |
| Country | Australia |
| Presented by | V8 Supercars |
| Reward(s) | Trophy, sponsorship grant |
| First awarded | 2000 |
| Currently held by | Ashley Walsh |
The Mike Kable 'Young Gun' Award, formally known as the Mike Kable Rookie of the Year Award, is an Australian award for the best young driver in V8 Supercars. The award is dedicated to the memory of the widely respected motoring journalist, Mike Kable.
Background
Mike Kable was a long-time motor racing journalist, who originally worked for The Australian for almost three decades and then as a freelance journalist. After his death from cancer in May 2000, the then AVESCO chairman Tony Cochrane named the new award in his honour. "Mike Kable will forever remain an inspiration for his vision and unwavering support of young drivers and his contribution to the V8 Supercar category," Cochrane said.[1] "Mike was both a friend and unabashed publicist to a host of up-and coming motor racing talent from Craig Lowndes, to Mick Doohan and Sir Jack Brabham. He was always looking for the next great driver and I am honoured to name this prestigious award after him," he concluded.[1]
The award includes a AU$15,000 sponsorship grant to aid in the development of the recipient. The award largely replaced the Bathurst 1000 rookie of the year award which ceased being used at around the same time.
Four recipients of the award, Marcos Ambrose, Rick Kelly, Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney, have gone on to win the V8 Supercars championship title later in their career.
Criteria
The medal is awarded to the rookie of the year for the season in either the main series (V8 Supercars) or the Development Series. It is voted on by the motor sport media, including Mike Kable’s former colleagues, which provides an independent perspective on who has been the best rookie throughout the V8 Supercars season.
Previous Winners
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2000 |  Matthew White[2]
|
| 2001 | Marcos Ambrose[3]
|
| 2002 | Rick Kelly[4]
|
| 2003 | Mark Winterbottom[5]
|
| 2004 | Warren Luff[6]
|
| 2005 | Grant Denyer[7]
|
| 2006 | James Courtney[8]
|
| 2007 | Dale Wood[9]
|
| 2008 | Karl Reindler[10]
|
| 2009 | James Moffat[11]
|
| 2010 | Tim Blanchard[12]
|
| 2011 | Chaz Mostert[13]
|
| 2012 | Scott Pye[14]
|
| 2013 |  Scott McLaughlin[15]
|
| 2014 | Todd Hazelwood[16]
|
| 2015 | Ashley Walsh[17]
|
References
- ^ a b Motorsport journalist Mike Kable honoured with new V8 Supercar award 10/6/00
- ^ V8X - 2000 V8 Supercar Awards
- ^ V8 SUPERCAR AWARD WINNERS 2001
- ^ 2002 V8 SUPERCAR AWARD WINNERS
- ^ Mark Winterbottom Biography
- ^ HPDC V8 Supercar Series Form Guide
- ^ Grant Denyer V8 Supercars
- ^ 2011 V8 Supercar Series News - V8 Supercar series, race news & results, Holden, Ford | V8dailydump.com.au
- ^ Jamie Whincup takes consolation for V8 Supercar Championship Series disappointment
- ^ Karl Reindler @ Holden Motorsport
- ^ PICS: 2009 V8 Supercar Gala Dinner « SpeedCafe - Get Your Racing Fix
- ^ V8 Awards: Blanchard is Mike Kable Young Gun « SpeedCafe - Get Your Racing Fix
- ^ Chaz Mostert collects Mike Kable Young Gun « SpeedCafe - Get Your Racing Fix
- ^ Winterbottom happy to put pedal to the medal
- ^ McLaughlin aims Higher
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Lowndes secures his fifth Barry Sheene Medal". Speedcafe. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.