ITV F1 commentator Martin Brundle was honoured for his 2005
Formula One commentary at the coveted Royal Television Society's Television Sports Awards on Wednesday night.
Brundle, the public voice of
F1, was recognised for the third time by the RTS for his achievements as an expert analyst, making it an unprecedented hat-trick in the category of best 'Sports Pundit', given to the best expert in their field. Brundle was a back-to-back recipient of the award in 1998 and 1999.
Brundle beamed he was absolutely delighted with the RTS laurel: "It is a great honour to receive a Royal Television Society award, one of the highest accolades in British Television. I have been very lucky to have two careers and I am somewhat amazed to be recognised in television."
Upon being presented with the award the father of two expressed his thanks to the team around him.
"I must first thank my wife Liz who has been totally supportive and very tolerant of my travelling for over 20 years," he added. "Thanks also to
ITV Sport, North One Television and all my colleagues in the
F1-ITV Team, which I'm very proud to be part of."
Brundle, who celebrates his 47th birthday on Thursday, shone in 2005 - a year that F1 enjoyed one of its most exciting seasons, including a controversial US Grand Prix, where Brundle demonstrated his mettle amidst the chaos of the abortive event.
The judges marked out Brundle for his uncompromising interpretation of F1 by saying he was 'an outstanding operator at the very peak of his game' - with 'an extraordinary ability to simplify and entertain in an often complex sport'. He also exhibited a 'fearless authority on some of the most sensitive issues - not least his gimlet-eyed pursuit of Formula One boss
Bernie Ecclestone on the grid at Indianapolis!'
