AUSTRALIAN MOTORSPORT MEDIA RECOGNISED FOR COVERAGE OF 2020 SUPERCARS SEASON THE ACHIEVEMENTS of a media industry covering a year unlike any other have been celebrated at the ninth annual Supercars Media Awards, supported by Castrol and Hino.
Van Leeuwen was recognised for his outstanding reporting on the 2020 championship for the global outlet, delivering Supercars content to an international audience throughout the season.
Four-time Journalist of the year winner Mark Fogarty, from Auto Action, and newcomer Simon Chapman from Speedcafe.com were also recognised for their outstanding efforts throughout 2020.
Van Leeuwen was also recognised for the ‘Best Supercars News Story’ of the year, for his outstanding reporting of the Victorian-based Supercars team’s border dash during the early stages of Melbourne’s second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, van Leeuwen’s outstanding night was completed as the winner of the ‘Best Supercars Feature story’, his July 17 motorsport.com feature that documented ‘The most extraordinary day in Supercars history’ – as Melbourne-teams escaped Victoria.
Long-time Supercars snapper Mark Horsburgh won his second Photographer of the Year award, his outstanding body of work covering the remarkable 2020 Supercars championship – a season where at some rounds he was the only accredited photographer – recognised by the judging panel.
Horsburgh narrowly edged out Dirk Klynsmith for the coveted award, with Rhys Vandersyde also recognised.
In a productive season, Horsburgh also picked up the award for 2020 Supercars Photo of the Year.
The ever-popular reporter was at his best form throughout 2020 as he worked the Supercars pit lane for Fox Sports and Channel 10. Neil Crompton and Chad Neylon were also recognised on the evening.
Supercars media manager Paul Glover was awarded Media Manager of the Year for the first time, as recognition for his efforts navigating Supercars media coverage throughout the 2020 season.
Tickford Racing’s Mitch Robinson and Kelly Racing Media Manager Aiden Taylor were also commended.
Greg Rust picked up his second ‘Best Radio Program / Podcast’ Media Award for his Rusty’s Garage podcast.
Rust, who won the award in 2018 for the same program, edged out the most competitive field ever nominated for a Supercars Media Award.
Six podcasts polled votes, with the V8 Sleuth Podcast and ‘Parked Up’ on the podium alongside Rusty’s Garage.
AME Management were recognised for their outstanding ‘Holden Motorsport Memories’ series in the Best in-broadcast or digital feature/news story.
For their efforts documenting their travels and challenges throughout the incredible year, Kelly Racing were recognised as winners in the ‘Most outstanding use of Social of Digital Media’ category. As well as an in-depth document of the build of their new Ford Mustangs, the team took social media audiences on the road during their extensive road trip across Australia this year.
Highly respected motoring and motorsport journalist Bruce Newton, and Photographer Paul Cross, were inducted into the Supercars Media Awards hall of fame.
