Motor racing: Franchitti and Di Resta honoured by Scottish Motor Racing Club

THE Bathgate Boys – Dario and Marino Franchitti, and cousin Paul di Resta – took centre stage at the annual Scottish Motor Racing Club awards in Edinburgh.

The gala event, held at the Balmoral Hotel, was attended by 315 people, including double Le Mans 24-Hours winner Allan McNish, British Touring Car championship runner-up Gordon Shedden and GP3 racer Lewis Williamson from Golspie, Sutherland. Dario Franchitti, who won the US-based IndyCar championship for a fourth time this year, received the event’s main award, the John Romanes Trophy.

The Scot received the cherished trophy – awarded to the driver who has displayed “excellence in motorsport throughout his career” – for the third time, the first British driver to do so.

“This is a terrific honour for me to receive this award from the club,” Franchitti, who has also won the Indy500 twice, said. “This award is very special.”

The 38-year-old reflected on events in the final race of the season in which his close friend Dan Wheldon was killed. “Those few hours immediately after the crash were perhaps the toughest I’ve had to deal with in my racing career,” he said. “I’d lost a close friend, someone I’d been chatting to and laughing with just before the race. Events like that put motor racing and championships into perspective.”

Franchitti also had words of praise for Di Resta, the 25-year-old who has impressed many with his performances in his rookie Formula 1 season.

“I never doubted Paul would be the success he is,” Franchitti said. “I’ve watched him grow and mature through karting, into single-seaters, then into DTM [touring cars], and now Formula 1. People used to laugh when they heard me say Paul would be a world champion. Now they’ve seen exactly what he can do, I think they’re thinking the same thing.”

Di Resta, who is tipped to receive this season’s F1 rookie of the year award, won the coveted Ecurie Ecosse Hubcap.

The other awards included the Border Motor Racing Club Trophy, which went to Kenny Thirlwall. The East Lothian racer has dominated Scottish Formula Ford, winning all 14 rounds.

Edinburgh’s David Sleigh lifted the Celtic Speed Scottish Mini Cup, while Alloa’s Carol Brown won the Students’ Charity Quaich.

Aberdeen father and son, Jim and Glynn Geddie, received the Williams Lyons Trophy after winning the British GT Championship.