2010 FIA GT3 European Champion Christian Hohenadel has become the latest recipient of the Michelin Award. As the fastest of the two driver champions, the 34-year-old German driver will receive €150,000 and 40 sets of Michelin tyres to enable him to compete in the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship.  The decision was taken by comparing Hohenadel’s qualifying and best race times against the ones set by his fellow champion Daniel Keilwitz during their season behind the wheel of the Callaway Competition prepared Corvette Z06R GT3.  During their successful 2010 season the new Champions secured four wins and four further podium finishes in the twelve races held in the UK, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Portugal and Belgium.

Christian Hohenadel said: “I am very happy to receive the 2010 Michelin Award which will help me in the next stage of my career in GT racing.  My thanks must go to Callaway Competition, who have provided a fantastic car this season, Michelin and also to my fellow GT3 Champion Daniel Keilwitz, who has been the best teammate I could wish for. He has improved at every race and we make a great team, as our lap times have shown this season. This is one of the most important reasons why we are now European Champions and I hope we will get to race together again in the future. Michelin has also worked very hard to extend the range of tyres to ensure we had the best possible on track performance from the Corvette.  I’m very much looking forward to racing in the FIA GT1 World Championship next season as the races I’ve seen this year have been very competitive and I would like to thank Michelin for the opportunity. It will be a big challenge to race against some of the best GT drivers in the world.”

Stephane Ratel said: “Christian Hohenadel is a worthy winner of the 2010 Michelin Award and I am pleased to see that he will become the latest addition to the FIA GT1 World Championship grid next year.  In 2009 we had two champions whose lap times were very close and we have had the same this season with Christian and Daniel.  Since it began in 2006 the FIA GT3 European Championship has been providing a great platform for the next generation of GT drivers to prove themselves and we have seen Henri Moser and Christopher Haase doing very well in the GT1 World Championship.  I’d like to thank again Michelin for its support in providing this award that enables drivers to progress up the ranks of GT racing.”

Since 2006 the fastest GT3 Champion has been provided with the prize of budget and Michelin tyres to enable them to progress to the next stage in GT racing.  2006 champion Sean Edwards moved up to the FIA GT Championship the following season, racing in the GT2 class with Tech 9 Motorsport. Henri Moser followed suit in 2008 after winning the title in 2007 with Gilles Vannelet.  2008 FIA GT3 Champion James Ruffier progressed to GT1 driving the SRT Corvette and in the Algarve became the first GT3 Champion to win an FIA GT Championship race outright.  The 2009 FIA GT3 Champion Christopher Haase is currently racing the Reiter Lamborghini in the FIA GT1 World Championship and has already stepped onto the podium in his first year at this level.  2007 Champion Henri Moser is also competing in the FIA GT1 World Championship, racing a Swiss Racing Team Nissan GT-R alongside Karl Wendlinger.