The Joseph Bianchini Medal, a new award that will recognise the driver judged to have been the ‘Spirit of the Sport’ throughout the Championship. (Pic: Pace Images)
Karting Australia is proud to introduce the Joseph Bianchini Medal, a new award that will recognise the driver judged to have been the ‘Spirit of the Sport’ throughout the Championship.
Named in honour of Joseph Bianchini, who tragically passed away suddenly due to illness last August, the medal celebrates the qualities that sit at the heart of the sport – outstanding driving ability, competitive performance and, importantly, respect and sportsmanship both on and off the track.
Joseph was a deeply respected young driver within the Australian karting community whose passion for the sport, commitment to fairness left a lasting impression on all who knew him. Through his involvement in karting, he consistently demonstrated the values of integrity, respect and sportsmanship that define the sport. The introduction of the medal ensures that his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of drivers.
“As a family, we’re deeply honoured for this medal to be awarded in Joseph’s memory,” said Adrian Bianchini.
“He love his karting and the friends he made in the sport, we will be forever grateful for the support from the karting community since his passing.”
During each round of the Championship, a panel of judges will vote on the driver they believe has been the best and fairest performer across the event. Judges will consider a range of factors including race results, race craft, conduct on track and the manner in which drivers represent themselves, their teams and the sport throughout the weekend.
The judging panel will consist of a mix of up to five officials, industry representatives and invited personnel from within the sport. Using a voting structure similar to many prestigious sporting awards, each judge will award votes on a 3, 2 and 1 basis to the drivers they believe best embodied the spirit of the award during the event.
Votes will accumulate across each round of the Championship, with the driver who records the highest total at the conclusion of the season to be presented with the Joseph Bianchini Medal.
By acknowledging sportsmanship and character alongside performance, the Joseph Bianchini Medal will highlight the drivers who best represent the spirit and future of Australian karting.
