It's the beginning of a new year, which means a great many people who have done great work for their communities, achieved in sport and in other arenas, have received OBEs and MBEs. Knighthoods, the top honour, have been given out and worthy shoulders tapped by the ceremonial sword. And plenty of not so worthy shoulders. Sir Fred Goodwin and Sir Philip Green, anyone?
But what about our world? It does seem that the highest honour in the land is rarely given to achievers in the motor industry and sport. So to right this wrong we introduce the Autocar Honours List: knighthoods for our own high-fliers. So without further ado, arise Sir Murray.
Sir Adrian Newey
Newey is undoubtedly one of the greatest Formula 1 car designers of all time. His name sits with Colin Chapman, Gordon Murray and Mauro Forghieri. A master of aerodynamics, if your team is struggling your first move should be to get hold of Newey’s telephone number.
Sir Richard Noble
This is long overdue. Noble literally put his neck on the line for the glory of Britain to win the land speed record back in 1983 and was the driving force behind Andy Green’s extraordinary breaking of the sound barrier in Thrust SSC. It’s likely that the LSR will remain with Britain forever thanks to Noble.
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Massive contributions to road and race cars
Walter Hayes, whose influence at Ford created the Ford Cosworth DFV which transformed F1 and opened up the podium to anyone with £7500. And whose Chairmanship devised and created the DB7, saving Aston Martin from death.
There will always be
Well done Autocar.
Lewis Hamilton
Like him or not Lewis Hamilton has achieved more in F1 than any other British racing driver. The resistance to a acknowlinging his achievements by some make me question their motives and whether we as a society have really moved on or not from the days bananas were thrown on football pitches?
@ TStag
....for once TStag, we are in agreement, but the rest of Autocars list I dont necessarily agree with.
Gordon Murray for example designed some great race cars (years ago), and since then one decent car -McLaren F1. I think he is over promoted.
Murray Walker should have been Knighted years ago, but I expect they will wait until it is too late as they did with John Surtees......meanwhile Knighting sports men still in the early stages of their career!
Its becoming a nonesense.