BWRDC - Wakefield Trophy 2009

Wakefield Trophy awarded

At the MSA's Night of Champions held at the Royal Automobile Club in London's Pall Mall. Tony Jardine as MC announced the posthumous award of the British Women Racing Driver Club's Lord Wakefield Trophy to Pat Moss-Carlsson.

As both Erik Carlsson and Sir Stiring Moss were out of the country, Stuart Turner was introduced to say a few words about Pat, as he had navigated for her on some UK rallies and had been her team manager at BMC.

Stuart Turner said :

"As Tony said, Pat started in show jumping and took awards at the Horse of the Year Show before moving into motorsport. Initially she perhaps suffered from being seen as Stirling's little sister but soon overcame that and I know he relished the time he was introduced as Pat Moss's brother.

She was European Ladies Champion 5 times and won countless ladies awards. But she was not just the best lady. Very often she was quite simply the best overall. People talk today about the glass ceiling women have to break through - Pat broke through motorsport's ceiling before Germaine Greer had even bought a bra let along burnt one.

Pat's greatest success was the Liege she won with her superb co-driver Ann Wisdom. That rally was 96 hours flat out. That may not sound a lot if you say it quickly but it was the equivalent of us all driving away now and not stopping until Tuesday evening - people would turn white just at the Health and Safety implications today.

The event was run mainly over rough and dusty roads and the crew were cooped up in an Austin Healey 3000. You wouldn't be allowed to make people do that today even if you were questioning them as terrorist suspects. In rally terms that win was as iconic as Stirling's on the Mille Miglia.

When I had the privilege of working with Pat as navigator or team manager, I found the best way to motivate her was to say "nobody will do the next section on time "... and then sit back and watch in awe as she did just that. She never changed. Not so long ago she got a speeding ticket...while towing a horsebox.

She was a wonderful driver and a wonderful person. I know her family will be pleased that her memory has been honoured with this award. "