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Rautiainen picks up 'Beef' Trophy |
Marcus Gronholm's co-driver, Timo Rautiainen was presented with the Michael Park 'Beef' Trophy on Thursday prior to the ceremonial start of the Wales Rally GB, the final round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship.
Rautiainen is only the second person to pick up the award and it was given to him by last year's inaugural winner, Daniel Elena, who calls the notes for triple world champion, Sebastien Loeb.
The award was created in memory of Michael Park, who was tragically killed at the Wales Rally GB back in 2005.
The trophy is awarded to the WRC co-driver who is judged to have best achieved 'the overall qualities associated with Michael during his career with consideration taken into account of actual results, attitude, commitment and any specific action or achievements'.
This year's 'jury' comprised Citroen boss, Guy Frequelin, Robert Reid, Fred Gallagher and Guido Rancati.
Rautiainen, who like his long-term partner in crime, Gronholm, is set to retire at the end of this season, beat off four other nominees - namely Phil Mills (Petter Solberg's co-driver), Ilka Minor (Manfred Stohl's co-driver), Stephane Prevot (Chris Atkinson's co-driver) and Denis Giraudet (who has called the notes this year for Daniel Carlsson and Spyros Pavlides, but who is probably best known for working with Didier Auriol).
