Alfa Romeo Formula 1 racer Antonio Giovinazzi has been revealed as the recipient of this year’s Bandini Trophy.
The Bandini Trophy was founded in 1992 by the Brisighella town in which F1 racer Lorenzo Bandini, who died in an accident at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix, was born.
It is awarded annually for commendable performances in motorsport and has been won by the likes of Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
Giovinazzi will receive the award during a special ceremony on Saturday, with the Italian set to drive Alfa Romeo’s F1 racer on open public roads.
The journey will take Giovinazzi from the Plazza del Popolo in Faenza to Piazza Carducci in Brisighella, with the car then set to remain on show for the rest of the day.
Several members of Alfa Romeo will also receive recognition at the ceremony, including Technical Director Simone Resta, Head of Track Engineering Xevi Pujolar and Head of Aerodynamics Jan Monchaux.
The awards are “in recognition of the incredible work the winners, and the team as a whole, have been doing in the last 12 months”, according to an Alfa Romeo statement.
Ferrari-linked Giovinazzi stepped up to Formula 1 full-time with Alfa Romeo this year, having spent the last two seasons in test and reserve roles, after finishing runner-up to Pierre Gasly in GP2 in 2016.
He also participated in two grands prix in 2017 with the team, under its Sauber guise, as a late stand-in.
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas received the award in 2018.
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