King sees off heavyweight competition to be crowned Autosport's driver of 2020

Credit Porsche UK

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Harry King has been named Autosport’s National Driver of the Year for 2020 after a sensational rookie season in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB saw him claim the championship title with a meeting still to go. Driving for Team Parker Racing the 19-year-old from Holyport took the chequered flag on 12 occasions and was only beaten in qualification once, at the final race weekend and only by 0.02 seconds.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB supports the British Touring Car Championships but King is now targeting a move to the Formula 1 supporting Porsche Supercup event next year.

Autosport readers voted King into pole position ahead of Ash Sutton and Colin Turkington from the British Touring Cars Championship, and British GT pacesetter Phil Keen.

“I certainly didn’t think I would [win] being up against the heavyweights, like the touring car boys - wow,” said King.

“I knew it would be tough against Ash and Colin and also Phil Keen from British GT, so it’s a nice award to take into the winter, as well as the championship.

“It’s quite a special award and it’s nice to gain recognition for the hard work that has gone into this year.

“I’m grateful for each and every vote, I’m satisfied that people recognised the hard work and I think the best way to repay the favour to them is to give them entertaining racing.

“Also thank you to Porsche Cars for the Junior opportunity - it’s been a whirlwind of a first year and I’m thoroughly looking forward to the next one.”

The award is normally dominated by BTCC drivers and former winners include Jason Plato, Matt Neal, Gordon Shedden and Turkington. However, Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, David Coulthard, Takuma Sato and Lando Norris all took the prize during their junior careers before establishing themselves in Formula 1. The 2020 edition of the Autosport Awards will take place online but continue to highlight the best of the motorsport season.

See autosport.com/awards for more information.