LAND speed record breaker Richard Noble has been honoured in his home country of Scotland by receiving this year’s Jim Clark Memorial Award.
The award, made by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers and sponsored by Ford, is named after racing driver Jim Clark who, in a Lotus 49 at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1967, gave Ford its first ever Formula One win with the new Ford-Cosworth V8 Grand Prix engine.
Richard Noble, who was born in Edinburgh in 1946, broke the world land speed record in Thrust2 in 1983 with an average speed of 633.468mph.
He was also project director of the Thrust SSC programme, achieving the first ever supersonic land speed record at 763.035mph and is currently involved in the Bloodhound SSC project which is attempting to take a car beyond the 1,000mph barrier.
John Murdoch, president of the ASMW, said: "It is a great privilege for the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers to honour one of the world's fastest men on land with an award in memory of one of the fastest men on the circuit.
"I am delighted Richard has won the 2011 Jim Clark Memorial Award that recognises worthy recipients who contribute their passion and energy to our industry."
After the presentation Richard Noble, said: "This is a huge privilege for me and important recognition for the ThrustSSC and BloodhoundSSC teams.
“Jim Clark was one of my boyhood heroes and as we all know a totally brilliant driver and a great ambassador for Scotland.”
Previous winners of the Jim Clark award include motorsport legends Sir Jackie Stewart, David Coulthard, Allan McNish and Colin McRae.