12/11/2008
NEWS STORY
Singapore's Marina Bay and Toro Rosso's Franz Tost (right) were among the inners at the Professional World MotorSport Awards in Cologne last night.
Singapore won the 'Motor Sport Facility of the Year' award while Tost walked off with 'Team Principal of the Year'
"We are delighted that the efforts of the entire team and the invaluable contribution from all our fantastic partners have been recognised by this award," said Jonathan Hallett, the Singapore event's media director. "We have received a great many compliments from around the world since the running of the race in September, but this is an award given by our peers, the professionals who work in motor sports. It therefore is especially gratifying to receive this award."
Speaking about his award, Tost said: "I was astonished to hear about this award. I work in Formula 1 motor racing where, as in all sport, the only goal is to win races and championships. In 2008, Scuderia Toro Rosso won one Grand Prix. However, this means we therefore lost 17 Grands Prix and won no championships!
"However, Formula 1 is a team sport and I will agree that Scuderia Toro Rosso as a whole has done a good job this season, making steady progress throughout the year, finishing with a result that is dramatically better than those achieved in the first two years of competing in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. This year we scored a total of 39 points, compared to one in '06 and eight in '07.
"Therefore, although I don't feel that I personally deserve any special recognition, I am happy to receive this prestigious award on behalf of everyone who works for Scuderia Toro Rosso, as an encouragement to do even better in the future."
The FIA Institute picked up the 'Safety Innovation of the Year' for its WRC safety programme, while the Renault R28 missed out on the 'Vehicle Development of the Year' award as did Adrian Newey (Design Engineer of the Year), Chip Ganassi (Team Principal of the Year) and the Valencia Street Circuit (Motorsport Facility of the Year).
The judges included; Michael Andretti, Trevor Carlin and Gary Anderson.
What's the betting the inscription on the 2009 Motor Sport Facility of the Year will read... Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi?