French student Guillaume Navarro was revealed as the winner of the 2008 Bridgestone
e-reporter competition at Monza on Sunday night.
With the results of the contest announced as part of the 2008 GP2 Series end-of-season ceremony, Navarro enjoyed the bonus of sharing the stage with newly-crowned GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano as the Winning Attitude Awards (WAA) were presented.
The Bridgestone
e-reporter competition attracted a record number of entries this year from across Europe, with nine finalists chosen to report on Bridgestone and the GP2 Series rounds over the course of the season.
In a tense finale to the competition, Navarro's victory was announced on stage by Franco Annunziato – managing director of Bridgestone Technical Centre Europe – in front of all GP2 teams, drivers, series personnel, official suppliers and partners attending the evening celebrations.
This year marked the fifth anniversary of the competition, and the Japanese company celebrated by inviting all previous finalists to Monza. A total of 31 graduates joined the celebratory reunion at the Italian Grand Prix, as Bridgestone showcased its investment in both the community and future journalists.
“It is a great honour to crown yet another talented Bridgestone
e-reporter,” commented Annunziato. “As we celebrate five years of the competition this year, we look forward to the future by continuing our commitment to education and supporting young talents.”
“In the same way as GP2 is Formula 1's strongest feeder series, the Bridgestone
e-reporter competition represents a unique chance for young, aspiring motorsport journalists to make their way to the paddock,” added a delighted Navarro, who reported on the Hungarian round of the campaign back in August.
“Being the winner of the 2008 Bridgestone
e-reporter contest gives me a great sense of achievement. Most of all it will give me opportunities to work with passion in the motorsport journalism environment.
“I would like to thank Bridgestone for this amazing programme that has been a success for five years. Thanks to the competition, new generations of writers will hopefully make successful careers in years to come.”
