Lord Astor Receives Highest Motorsport Award From Sir Stirling Moss For Outstanting Contribution To The Industy

London, July 9, 2010: Lord Astor of Hever, Minister of Defence in the House of Lords, was last night presented with this Award by Sir Stirling Moss at the MIA's annual Summer Reception at the House of Lords.

Lord Astor won the Award for the Most Outstanding Personal Contribution to the Motorsport Industry, after recently stepping down as Honorary President of the MIA for 15 years.

Lord Astor joins a highly impressive list of previous winners, including Ross Brawn OBE, Professor Sid Watkins, Lord March, Sir Frank Williams CBE, Sir Stirling Moss OBE and Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, as well as Tom Wheatcroft and Bernie Ecclestone among others.

The past 15 years have seen many motorsport-related issues raised in Parliament, some catching the headlines for the wrong reasons. Throughout this time, the steady presence of Lord Astor in the House of Lords - raising matters of importance and encouraging intelligent, well-informed debate - has helped steer a positive course for the sport and the industry in the UK.

His personal involvement directly helped to secure the British Grand Prix in the UK, initiated the hugely-successful business diversification from Motorsport into Defence, kept the pressure on Government to resolve issues of Motorsport Development UK and many other important works.

"We must remember that Lord Astor has no personal connection to the industry; he has provided his support purely out of his personal commitment to the continuing excellence of the British motorsport industry" said Alistair Fergusson of Alcon, Chairman of the MIA.

Chris Aylett, CEO of the MIA commented: "He is an outstanding individual, to whom all in the UK industry owe a great deal for his untiring, selfless and largely unsung work. A quite exceptional effort."

The MIA's Summer Reception is regarded as the most prestigious social gathering on the international motorsport business calendar. The 2010 reception was attended by over 300 guests, including Peers, Ministers of State, Ambassadors, MPs, VIPs, MIA members and leaders from the motorsport industry across the globe.