Sean Edwards Trophy to be awarded in 2015
Financial help offered to winner to further racing career.
Cooper MacNeil signs the #30 NGT Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with the Sean Edwards memorial livery
Eric Gilbert
The Sean Edwards Foundation (SEF) was pleased to announce the introduction of the Sean Edwards Trophy at last night’s SRO Prize Giving Ceremony in London. The award will be presented at the end of the 2015 season, offering the chosen driver the opportunity to develop a career in GT racing.
Professional racing driver Sean Edwards was fatally injured at Queensland Raceway in Australia when the driver of the car he was a passenger in crashed heavily on 15 October 2013. He was just 26. At the time of his death, and with just one round remaining, Sean was leading the Porsche Supercup standings. He’d also just become only the third Briton ever to win the Nurburgring 24 Hours outright. His achievements also include twice winning the Dubai 24 Hours and being crowned FIA GT3 European Champion aged 19.
SEF has worked tirelessly to increase safety measures for rookie and amateur drivers since establishing a tight collaboration with the SRO Motorsports Group. The Sean Edwards Trophy will be awarded to the Bronze competitor under the age of 25 who displays the desired approach, talent and attributes within the Pro-Am category of the Blancpain Sprint Series. They will also receive a cheque for €100,000 to help them advance their careers in the championship.
SRO to present trophy
As promoter of the Blancpain Sprint Series, which Sean became the first winner of in its former guise as FIA GT3 European Championship at the age of 19, it is fitting that the SRO Motorsports Group should present the trophy. Their partnership with SEF has already seen huge safety improvements for young drivers, and this award will be another step in the right direction for motorsport.
Daphne McKinley (Founder and Chairman of the Sean Edwards Foundation): “One of Sean’s passions was mentoring aspiring, talented drivers to help them improve their skills and speed. SEF will continue his passion for developing young drivers into top athletes and on to racing excellence, paying particular attention to instilling Sean’s attitude, education of racing skills and safety standards.
“We are delighted that the SRO Motorsports Group will honour Sean by awarding The Sean Edwards Trophy. Winning the trophy and a sponsorship deal worth €100,000 will prove to be invaluable to the talented young competitor’s career.”
Stephane Ratel (CEO and founder of the SRO Motorsports Group): “Within SRO Motorsports Group we find it important that young talented drivers get the opportunity to advance their careers. In 2014 we have seen a lot of new faces in the Blancpain GT Series, youngsters willing to try to make it to the top of GT racing. By creating the Sean Edwards Trophy, we will give the best of them the necessary support to continue climbing the steps of the racing ladder. It would make us very proud if we could discover a young driver with similar talent as Sean’s and help him to develop his career.”
Full details of SEF’s safety initiatives, as well as more information about the foundation, can be found on the all-new www.seanedwardsfoundation.com
Sean Edwards Foundation
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