THE RACE TORQUE has been recognised at the 2022 Hino Supercars Media Awards, claiming the prize for best feature story of the year.

Dale Rodgers’ extensive interview and biography on tuning legend Rob Herrod claimed the award for Best Feature Story of the year at the annual awards.

Meanwhile, Mark Walker was given an honourable mention for his capture of the DJR Mustang’s wild off at Bathurst this year, while TRT as a whole was also acknowledged as a frontrunner in the ‘Best Publication’ category.

We’re proud of our results – as an independent publication driven mainly by the love, we’re proud of the corner of the motorsport media that we’ve established.

Thanks to everyone, especially Doric and Caltex, who supports TRT!

Meanwhile, read on about the awards below.

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A DIVERSE array of winners has highlighted the eleventh annual Hino Supercars Media awards, presented at the VALO Adelaide 500 on Friday night.  

The broad array of outlets, journalists and photographers covering the sport claimed the awards this year, with the broadest group of winning publications and individuals in awards history. 

V8 Sleuth capped off a remarkable year of growth by being recognised as the Publication of the year for the first time.  

Sleuth Journalist Connor O’Brien was awarded Journalist of the year – also for the first time – with doyen Mark Fogarty (Parked Up Plus) and most recent winner Andrew van Leeuwen (Motorsport.com) also recognised for their efforts.  

To cap off a remarkable night for the Sleuth team, their Castrol Motorsport News Podcast – hosted by Andrew van Leeuwen and Stefan Bartholomaeus – picked up the Best Podcast award, with honourable mentions to Rusty’s Garage and the Parked Up Plus news podcast.  

Speedcafe.com triumphed in the Breaking news category, Daniel Herrero’s scoop about Walkinshaw Andretti United’s switch from Holden to Ford recognised as the best effort in news breaking this year. 

The photographic categories were hotly contested as always with the high quality of Supercars’ imagery on show once again.  

Daniel Kalisz claimed the Photographer of the Year award for the second straight year and fifth time overall, a record for the award category.  

Kalisz also picked up a trophy for Best Feature / News image thanks to a stunningly composed portrait of Nick Percat.  

Matthew Norton claimed his first Media Award in the Best On-Track image category, recognised by judges for a unique angle of the Bathurst 1000 chequered flag moment this year.  

Longstanding Motorsport Journalist and PR expert Grant Rowley picked up the award for PR operator of the year, with special mentions to Rebecca Dutton (Shell V-Power Racing) and Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Mitch McEvoy.  

It was Rowley’s second gong for the best PR operator, his most recent coming in 2013 for his work with Nissan Motorsport.  

Triple Eight was recognised for their ongoing leadership in the social media space by picking up the award for the best use of Social Media.  

The best Video Production category exploded in interest this year with a record number of nominations for any category in the history of the Supercars Media Awards.  

Special reference was given to Apatchie Media for their Access All Areas: Erebus Motorsport documentary Series, and AirTime Media for the recent Inside Line; Triple Eight Race Engineering series.  

Honourable mentions were given to Shell V-Power Racing / Airtime Media for their feature on DJR’s 1000 races and Supercars Digital for their ongoing outstanding output.  

However, the winner was the ‘Three blokes on a Bench’ feature, produced by Briony Ingerson and Supercars Media for the Pukekohe Fox Sports broadcast earlier this year.  

The Video category will be revised in 2023 to cater for the significant diversity in content, with revised criteria and categories to be included in future awards to better reflect the broad nature of the medium.  

Garth Tander’s rise in the TV world was recognised as he was named Broadcaster of the Year, breaking a three-year stranglehold on the award by Mark Larkham.  

Supercars Media Head of Television David Tunnicliffe accepted the award on Tander’s behalf. 

Two further motorsport media legends were inducted into the Supercars Media Awards Hall of Fame, including Chris Lambden, the founder and publisher of iconic motorsport publication, Motorsport News.  

Mark Horsburgh, the long-serving and highly acclaimed official photographer of the Repco Supercars Championship, was also inducted to great applause. 

Renowned motorsport cartoonist John ‘Stonie’ Stoneham, was formally presented his award, having previously inducted in the initial class of 2012.  

The Supercars Media Awards thank Hino and the Repco Supercars Championship for their ongoing support of the awards.  

For more information please visit www.supercarsmediaawards.com.au 

BEST FEATURE STORY 

Honourable mentions: 

“A doomed Motorsport Classic Saved” – Andrew van Leeuwen, Motorsport.com

“Home Grown Superheroes” – Cameron Kirby, MOTOR 

Winner: 

“Rob Herrod’s Amazing Ford Journey” – Dale Rodgers, The Race Torque.com  

BEST NEWS STORY 

Honourable mentions: 

“F1 Drivers to Supercars” – Andrew van Leeuwen, Motorsport.com

“Supercars Sale” – Bruce Williams, Auto Action 

Winner: 

“WAU Ford Switch” – Daniel Herrero, Speedcafe.com  

FEATURE PHOTO OF THE YEAR 

Honourable mentions:

Peter Norton – The return of Dick Johnson  

Matt Norton – Bathurst Podium  

Winner: Daniel Kalisz, Percat Portrait

BEST ON TRACK PHOTO OF THE YEAR 

Honourable mentions: 

Mark Walker – Bathurst Mudbath  

Mark Horsburgh – SVG Skids 

Winner:  

Matthew Norton – Bathurst win 

PR MANAGER OF THE YEAR 

Honourable Mentions:

Rebecca Dutton, Shell V-Power Racing
Mitch McEvoy, Red Bull Ampol Racing 

Grant Rowley, Network R

BEST USE OF SOCIAL /DIGITAL MEDIA 

Honourable Mentions:

The Race Torque

V8 Sleuth 

Winner:

Mitch McEvoy, Triple Eight Race Engineering

BEST PODCAST / RADIO SHOW 

Honourable Mentions: 

Parked Up Plus 

Rusty’s Garage 

Winner: 

Castrol Motorsport News Podcast 

BEST VIDEO PRODUCTION 

Special recognition for long-form content: 

Airtime Media – Inside Line, Triple Eight Race Engineering

Apatchie Media – Access All Areas, Triple Eight. 

Honourable Mentions:  

Shell V Power Racing / AirTime Media – DJR 1000 races

Supercars Digital for their output  

Winner: 

“Three Blokes on a bench” – Briony Ingerson, Supercars Media  

BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR:  

Garth Tander  

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 

Honourable Mentions: 

Ross Gibb 

Kass Brumley  

Winner: 

Daniel Kalisz  

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR:  

Honourable Mentions 

Andrew van Leeuwen, Motorsport.com 

Mark Fogarty, Parked Up Plus 

Winner: 

Connor O’Brien, V8 Sleuth 

BEST PUBLICATION:  

Honourable mentions:

Auto Action 

The Race Torque 

Winner: 

V8 Sleuth