Doha: The prestigious annual FIA Prize-giving ceremony, which honours the achievements of all FIA champions over the past season, will be held here on December 5. This year’s edition will be truly special, as it will inaugurate a new format.
The celebrations will start on December 4 with a thrilling Prize-giving Challenge. FIA Champions and guests will take part for the first time in a fun and exciting competition, to be held at a karting track designed by Herman Tilke in the Prize-Giving Village in Doha. More than 30 drivers have confirmed their participation, including Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastien Loeb and Petter Solberg.
At a press conference of FIA champions on December 5, fans will be given the chance to submit questions to their favourite champions via Facebook and Twitter using #FIADriversTalk.
The day will culminate with a glamorous two-part ceremony celebrating the FIA champions. For the first time in FIA history, the ceremony will be broadcast live on BeIN Sport.
The winners of the FIA Personality of the Year and FIA Action of the Year awards will be unveiled that same evening, as will the brand new FIA Rookie of the Year award and FIA Pole Position trophy.
The FIA Personality of the Year award sees permanently accredited media from the FIA’s World Championships honour the competitor or figure — a driver, a team manager, an official, a volunteer, etc., affiliated to an FIA Championship or event, who they believe achieved an exceptional performance this season.
The FIA Action of the Year award allows motor sport’s legions of fans to choose their defining event of the sporting year. The fans will be able from to cast their vote at fia.com.
This year, the FIA Rookie of the Year award will be presented for the first time.
The award will be chosen among drivers who just completed their first season in an FIA championship. Eligible series include the FIA Formula One World Championship, World Rally Championship, European Rally Championship, World Touring Car Championship, World Endurance Championship, World Rallycross Championship, European Rallycross Championship, European Formula 3 Championship and CIK Karting KF World Championship.
The award winner will be voted for by his or her peers — the seasoned drivers of the FIA Drivers’ Commission have been tasked with the difficult choice. Headed by Formula One two-time world champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, the commission includes Sebastien Loeb, Nigel Mansell, Karun Chandhok, Emmanuele Piro, Yvan Muller, Susie Wolff, HRH Prince A. Al Faisal, FIA Vice-president Nasser Al Attiyah, Marcus Gronholm, Daniel Elena, Kenneth Hansen, Danilo Rossi and Keiko Ihara. THE PENINSULA
