Katie Milner takes the 2017 BWRDC Goldstar award

Awards (Photo by Marc Waller)

Awards (Photo by Marc Waller)Katie Milner has won the 2017 BWRDC Goldstar award with the presentation held at the Autosport international show inside Birmingham’s NEC.

After Katie’s successful Junior saloon car championship (JSCC) season she was chosen by the judges to be on the final shortlist which this year consisted of just three other drivers in a ceremony on the MSA stand at the show.

The awards have been held since 2009 and are given to drivers judged to have shown talent in Motorsport. They are not just restricted to circuit racing with women from all aspects of Motorsport being nominated in the past. Previous winners have included former GP3 driver and multiple single seater champion Alice Powell, current British GT driver Anna Walewska and former British GT4 runner up Zoe Wenham.

Katie’s rivals for this year’s award were 2016 TKM British Karting runner up Abbi Pulling and Trish Cecile-Pritchard who competed in the Healey Sport Speed Championship.

After Katie’s record breaking season where she claimed eight wins and eleven podiums to be the first female driver to win the JSCC she was always going to be a strong contender to take the Goldstar award which is judged by various motorsport experts headed by Ian Titchmarsh, the very experienced commentator.

It’s a great start to her 2017 season but Katie had just been happy to be included in the shortlist;

Awards (Photo by Marc Waller) Awards (Photo by Marc Waller)

 

 

 

“To even be nominated for the BWRDC Award was such a great achievement for myself and Team Milner. This really just topped off the year after winning the JSCC Championship! I’d like to thank all the the BWRDC for their hard work and effort, all year they have supported my racing and I’ve worked closely with Sarah. Of course it wouldn’t be possible without my sponsors Nimbus Motorsport, Merlin International, Richardson Transport and I’m looking forward to working with them again in 2017 along with Yorkshire Wagyu and many more!”

She also spoke about how helpful winning the award will be to her career;

“The award will give me a great platform for 2017 and also boost my profile, I’m so grateful for the opportunity!”

She wins a beautiful glass trophy and lots of other benefits including a free test day at Donington Park, a flame retardant top plus head sock from Walero and free membership of the Motorsport Collective. Plus she joins a very exclusive club of former Goldstar winners.

Katie has already announced that she will be competing in the Ginetta GT5 challenge this year. The championship supports some rounds of both British GT and the BTCC, with some of the BTCC supporting rounds being shown live on ITV4.

Katie will once again be run by her family team, Merlin International (aka Team Milner!) and the team took delivery of the new car only a few days ago.

The whole team now aim to to get the car ready for testing before the first rounds take place over the Easter weekend at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

Although they see this season as a learning year, Katie is eager that the Goldstar trophy won’t be the only one she wins this season!

By Marc Waller

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