SCOTT MALVERN GUNS FOR TOP AWARD

Scott Malvern has been nominated again for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. Photo: Jakob Ebrey

Newly crowned Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Champion Scott Malvern has been selected for the second year running as a finalist in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, the richest junior-driver prize in UK motorsport.

Jamun driver Malvern, 22, is one of six being pitched against one another to decide the most promising racing talent in the country. At stake is a £100,000 prize and a McLaren F1 test. The judges, led by BRDC president Derek Warwick, will assess the half-dozen hopefuls at a Silverstone test day in November.

Ex-Formula Ford racer Emil Bernstorff is one of Malvern’s rivals; like Malvern, Bernstorff raced for Jamun, taking seventh place in the championship in 2010.

“I'm delighted,” said Scott. “This vindicates what was seen by many to be a risky strategy in returning to Formula Ford this season, having had such a brilliant 2010. If I hadn't dominated this category in my second season I would have been thought of as a failure. I've done the job I set out to do. It was in the back of my mind that I could earn a second crack at the award but I never take anything for granted. A big thank you to the judges for selecting me and a massive thank you to the Jamun Racing team and all of my supporters for helping to get me here. I am really looking forward to the competition and intend to enjoy every second of it”.

The other finalists are Alex Lynn, Oliver Rowland, Tom Blomqvist and Dino Zamparelli. The McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner will be announced in December.

Scott will be gunning for further glory at this weekend's Formula Ford Festival where he will be amongst the favourites for the Duratec title at Brands Hatch.