ILSA COX and ALICE POWELL SCOOP BWRDC GOLDSTARS Plus A KNIGHT OF THE REALM at AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL

Ilsa Cox and Alice Powell struck gold at Europe's leading racing car show, Autosport International recently when they scooped the two coveted BWRDC GoldStars awards presented to them by the legendary Sir Stirling Moss.

In front of TV crews, an army of photographers and a huge crowd surrounding the BWRDC stand, the highly successful SEAT Leon Cupra driver, Ilsa stepped forward to accept the GoldStars ‘Club' category from Sir Stirling Moss.

This prestigious award is presented to a member who aspires to become a professional driver. Ilsa said: "I can hardly believe it. I am just so thrilled to win this award. It means so much to me and to have it presented to me by Sir Stirling Moss, is momentous, it's just brilliant! I'm also delighted to have Liz Halliday as my Mentor; she is such a professional driver that I know I will gain a lot of tips from her and I'm really looking forward to that. Thank you BWRDC and thank you Sir Stirling Moss, one of our greatest-ever grand prix drivers for giving your support to us."

Already spotted as a rising star of the future, it was the turn of talented Formula Renault driver Alice Powell to step forward to accept the Goldstars ‘Elite' category from Sir Stirling. This coveted award is presented to a member wishing to progress her career to the next level en route to becoming a professional driver.

Alice said: "When I heard Ian (Titchmarsh) say my name, I thought ‘Wow'! And to have Stirling Moss present the award it's just fantastic! Amazing! It's really, really good that I've won this award. It means a lot to me, from such a great club like the BWRDC that has such a great heritage. And it's a great way of thanking my team, Manor Competition for exhibiting my car on the stand here at the show.

"I'm sure I'll get some useful tips from Susie Stoddart. I think it's brilliant to have her as my Mentor, as she's doing really, really well racing in the DTM series and, she used to race in Formula Renault a few years ago too!"

Stirling concluded: "I really am pleased that ladies are showing up so well now and so competent in racing, that we can look forward to some really important things and I think anything that can help towards that is a good thing. My sister (the late Pat Moss-Carlsson) was a really terrific driver and there have been other ones too, but I don't believe they ever received the opportunities that maybe we get as men.

"It doesn't take great strength to drive a car it just takes balance and sensitivity and if you discover a woman who is good, you will often find they are exceptionally good. There's no reason why a lady shouldn't be as good as a man!"

GoldStars Club Mentor Liz Halliday said: "It's a big honour for me to be invited as Mentor for the Club category again this year and I congratulate Ilsa. It's really great for her. I remember meeting her years ago at Thruxton when we were both racing. I know she's worked really hard, so it's very exciting that she's won this award and I look forward to helping her in any way I can".

Liz continued: "How fantastic and what an honour to have Sir Stirling Moss here. He's like a magnet, drawing in the crowds wherever he goes. It all helps to build the excitement of what this award represents to everybody and elevates the BWRDC for what it should be, a well recognised club that helps to promote women in racing.

GoldStars Elite Mentor Susie Stoddart said: "Congratulations Alice! I look forward to advising you in any way I can and will await your emails. I'm sorry that I couldn't be with you all this year but as you know I'm training hard with Mercedes-Benz, but I would have loved to have been there with such a legendary Mercedes driver as Sir Stirling! What an honour! Congratulations and best wishes to you all."

Chairman Helen Bashford-Malkie said: "My congratulations to the winners. I hope the GoldStars Awards will help progress your careers still further and I would like to thank Susie Stoddart for her continued support as GoldStars Mentor ‘Elite' and Liz Halliday for being GoldStars ‘Club' Mentor again this year and all our sponsors for their continued support."

Turning to Stirling Moss, Helen added: "I would like to give a special thank you to Sir Stirling Moss for presenting these Awards. It is indeed a great honour to have you here and it has elevated the entire club to a new level and I'm sure will inspire us all to even greater success in the future."

"Three Cheers to Sir Stirling!"

The GoldStars winners benefit from a generous sponsorship package including:

A stop-watch donated by IWI - handmade luxury watches; one year's supply of engine & gearbox oil donated by Millers Oils; a race suit each; an Arai GP-5K helmet donated by competition specialists companies Demon Tweeks and Phoenix Distribution. All nominees benefit from dedicated GoldStars webpages, designed and hosted by Blueleaf, a creative and digital agency.

Georgie Shaw
PR, BWRDC



Sir Stirling's Girls Covered in Gold as 2009 BWRDC GoldStars Winners Announced!
(left in forefront) BWRDC GoldStars 'Elite' Alice Powell & BWRDC GoldStars 'Club' Ilsa Cox (rgt of SM)
Photos courtesy: Jakob Ebrey






PURE GOLD!
(left to right) BWRDC GoldStars 'Elite' winner Alice Powell with Sir Stirling Moss OBE & BWRDC GoldStars 'Club' winner Ilsa Cox
Photos courtesy: Jakob Ebrey


For more information please contact:
BWRDC PR Georgie Shaw m: 07967 806929 e: georgiemshaw@btinternet.com
BWRDC Exhibition CoOrdinator Lynn Jones m: 07967 707959 e: joneski@onetel.com