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In World Rally Championship it is drivers and manufacturers who win rallies, score points and eventually some of them become champions. This structure does not recognise the fact that WRC is fundamentally a team effort, involving very large number of people ranging from drivers and team managers at the top to the mechanics, chefs and errand boys.
Inmarsat Star of the Rally is a new award that aims to rectify some of that. This special award can be handed to anyone that is deemed to have star quality in that rally. Naturally most common choice is a driver, but co-drivers, engineers and mechanics have been recipients.
Inmarsat Star of the Rally was first distributed in Monte Carlo 2003 and is voted for by a panel of experts headed by former co-driver Nicky Grist. Award itself is mostly honorary, comprising of Inmarsat Star of the Rally trophy (pictured), a magnum of champagne and 5,000 USD to the charity of winner's choice. Also, a star in the sky is named after winner. Not overtly much but it helps to raise the awareness and if award becomes long-running tradition, I think it could grow in prestige.
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Inmarsat Star of the Rally Trophy
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