Rising star Luke Browning earns Aston Martin F1 test

©AstonMartin

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©AstonMartin

Luke Browning, this year's GB3 Drivers' champion, was handed the 2022 Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award on Sunday evening in London.

Browning, who won five rounds of this season's GB3 championship, Britain's premier single-seater category, joins a star-studded list of former winners of the BRDC award that includes Lando Norris, George Russell and 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button just to name a few.

Browning outshined the BRDC Award's three other finalists - triple W-Series champion Jamie Chadwick, FIA F3 Championship charger Ollie Bearman and 2022 Indy Pro 2000 champion Louis Foster – after an intense two-day shootout at Silverstone that included runs in four different types of cars, fitness tests and an in-depth simulator assessment with the Mercedes F1 team.

The judging panel, led by 1992 World Sportscar champion and BRDC vice-president Derek Warwick, opted to hand the prestigious accolade to the 20-year-old Browning.

The young hopeful will enjoy a full test at some point next year with the Aston Martin F1 team. Browning also received on the night a cheque for £200,000, a full membership to the BRDC and an Arai crash helmet.

"This was such an awesome experience, it feels so good to be the winner," said Browning, who was the only driver among this year’s finalists to be competing for the Award for the first time.

"It’s incredible to be a part of such an amazing award with such an illustrious list of former winners. It feels pretty special to now have my name among them.

"Words can’t describe how grateful I am to all the people that have helped me to get here. It’s unbelievable to think that a year from now I will be testing an Aston Martin Formula 1 car."

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.