Supercars 2024: Supercars has named a new award to recognise the best and fairest driver on the grid in honour of Jim Richards

The best and fairest driver on the Supercars grid will be recognised with a new award named in honour of a touring car legend.

Supercars’ best-and-fairest driver will be recognised with a new award named in honour of motorsport legend Jim Richards.

The Jim Richards Award will be presented for the first time at Supercars’ end-of-season celebrations following next weekend’s season finale at the Adelaide 500.

Named after the seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner, affectionately known as “Gentleman Jim”, the award will be presented to the driver voted to be the best-and-fairest across the 2024 championship at the Supercars Gala on Monday, November 18, the day after the final race of the season.

The Jim Richards Award will be voted on by select Supercars and Motorsport Australia competition personnel, including Supercars general manager of motorsport Tim Edwards, race director James Taylor and driving standards advisor Craig Baird. In a similar format to the AFL’s Brownlow Medal, drivers have been awarded on a three, two and one votes after each race of the season, which will be tallied at the end of the championship in Adelaide.

Jim Richards is set to be honoured with an award named after him..

Drivers will be awarded votes for “on-track performance, professionalism and respectability in the field of play”.

Richards is regarded as one of the greats of Australian touring car racing, winning seven Bathurst 1000 crowns and four championships.

The New Zealand-born driver said he was humbled to have the award named in his honour.

“It’s an incredible honour to have my name associated with what is a very special award in the world of Supercars,” Richards said.

“I’m genuinely touched, and knowing the quality of drivers that compete in Supercars, the winner and future winners of the Jim Richards Award will be truly deserving of it. I am sure I will feel fortunate to be associated with them.

“Motorsport has been my life and to see this award recognise drivers who show the same dedication to it is truly special.”

The Jim Richards Award will sit alongside Supercars’ other major accolade, the Barry Sheene Medal, which has been awarded since 2003.

While the new award will focus on drivers’ on-track performance, the Barry Sheene Medal recognises drivers’ character and off-track contributions to the sport and is voted on by motorsport media.

Richards teamed with the late Peter Brock to claim three consecutive Bathurst 1000 victories between 1978 and 1980, while he also shared famous wins with Mark Skaife in a Nissan at Mount Panorama in 1991 and 1992.

Richards won seven Bathursts in his legendary career.

Richards’ seven Bathurst 1000 wins put him equal second alongside Craig Lowndes on the all-time winners’ list behind Brock, who had nine.

“The Jim Richards Award honours a driver who embodies the similar skills, racecraft and adeptness that Jim Richards is well revered for,” Supercars’ general manager of motorsport Tim Edwards said.

“It’s important for us to recognise not only our drivers’ abilities but the spirit in which they compete.

“The ‘best and fairest’ approach celebrates the drivers who perform at the highest level, both in terms of outright performance and sportsmanship, qualities that Jim has always been known for.”

Walkinshaw Andretti United driver Chaz Mostert was the winner of last year’s Barry Sheene Medal.

Triple Eight’s Will Brown will take a 180-point lead over teammate Broc Feeney into the final round of the Supercars season on the streets of Adelaide.

ENDS

Originally published as Supercars 2024: Supercars has named a new award to recognise the best and fairest driver on the grid in honour of Jim Richards