Brundle handed inaugural Murray Walker Award

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Long-time Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle has been handed by Motorsport UK the inaugural Murray Walker Award.

Brundle, who clinched 9 podiums while racing in F1 between 1984 and 1996, received the special accolade on Monday evening at Motorsport UK’s Night of Champions that took place at the Royal Automobile Club

The Murray Walked Award was introduced to recognise "outstanding excellence in broadcast journalism".

"There could be no better inaugural recipient of this special award than Martin Brundle, a close friend of Walker’s," it was noted by Motorsport UK.

"The pair worked together on ITV’s Formula 1 coverage in the nineties and since then Brundle has been an integral member of the BBC’s and more recently Sky Sports’ coverage of Grand Prix racing and is now best-known for his eventful live pre-race grid walks."

Needless to say, Brundle was honored to receive the recognition, just two years after Walker's passing at 97.

"I’m really pleased that there is an award in Murray’s name," Brundle said.

"We lost him during the pandemic and it’s been difficult to celebrate his life, so it’s really good that there’ll be an ongoing award.

"To be the first recipient of it is a great honour and a privilege.

"I was lucky enough in the first few years of my career on TV to be working alongside him."

On the same evening, former McLaren team boss and chairman Ron Dennis made a rear public appearance to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for steering the Woking-based outfit to multiple championships during F1's modern era.

Dennis' contribution to the automotive sector was also recognised, with Motorsport UK underlying how the Briton had "founded McLaren Automotive, creating a series of world-beating road-going supercars."

Also, Williams co-founder Sir Patrick Head was the reciepient of the Keith Duckworth Award that
recognises technical excellence in motorsport design and engineering.

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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.