Brock Trophy to be Awarded to Bathurst Winners

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This is a fitting way to honour a great Australian... I am happy to see it happen and can't wait to see what the trophy will look like...

Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20398460-23770,00.html

Winners to receive Brock Trophy
September 12, 2006

THE Peter Brock Trophy will be awarded to the winners of next month's Bathurst 1000 as part of an emotional tribute to the legendary driver.

V8 Supercars Australia announced that the trophy would be on offer each year at the Bathurst 1000 in a mark of respect for the nine-time Mount Panorama conqueror.

"This is a great honour for our family and we deeply appreciate it," said Lewis Brock, the three-time touring car champion's brother.

The man known as the 'King of the Mountain' was killed when he lost control of his car and slammed into a gum tree on Friday while racing in the Targa West rally, north-east of Perth.

Barely 24 hours after ruling out re-naming the Bathurst 1000 after Brock, V8 Supercars Australia announced the 2006 endurance race would celebrate his life, culminating with the presentation of the Peter Brock Trophy to the 161-lap race winners.

"V8 Supercars Australia will dedicate the Bathurst 1000 to Peter Brock with the permanent trophy that all drivers will aspire to win and walk in the footsteps of the great man," V8 Supercars Australia chairman Tony Cochrane said.

"It will be etched with the words Peter Brock Trophy and underscored with King of the Mountain.

"A designer is being commissioned to create the trophy for this year's event after which the inaugural winners' names will be inscribed."

The front row of the Bathurst 1000 starting grid this year will be left vacant in memory of Brock who still holds the record for the most pole positions at Mount Panorama - six.

All V8 Supercars at the event will also be sporting "05", Brock's racing number that was retired in 1997.

Cochrane said race day of the Bathurst 1000 on October 8 would celebrate Brock's life, starting with an "extensive tribute".

"We want to do what we feel is most appropriate and with the full support of Peter's family," Cochrane said.

"One of the things that we are very conscious of is that Peter would not have wanted any changes made to the format of the Great Race as first and foremost he was a fierce competitor.

"By naming the trophy we forever honour his name.

"I dare say that no one will ever match his record at Mount Panorama so there is no more fitting tribute than for the winners of the race to be afforded the honour."

Cochrane said a search was on for as many of the cars that Brock won the event in so they could be used in a "Champions Lap of Honour".

"It is hoped the cars will be driven by Peter Brock's son James, former co-drivers Brian Sampson, Jim Richards, Larry Perkins, John Harvey, David Parsons and Peter McLeod, based on their availability," Cochrane said.

Brock prodigies and current V8 Supercar heavyweights Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes have also been invited to drive in the champions lap.

An address by V8 Supercars Australia chaplain Gary Coleman will then be followed by a minute's silence before recording artist Iva Davies performs "Heroes" to a montage of Brock footage.

The pre-race program will be completed by the national anthem before the 10am race start.

AAP