![](http://formulascout.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/fairclough-1.jpeg)
Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Deagen Fairclough has earned himself a Formula 1 test with Aston Martin this year by winning the 2024 Silverstone Autosport BRDC Award.
The 18-year-old won the long-running award for young British drivers by beating FIA Formula 3 race-winner Arvid Lindblad, GB3 champion Louis Sharp and Italian Formula 4 dominator Freddie Slater in a two-day shootout test at Silverstone that took place in MotorSport Vision Formula 2 cars, a Ligier LMP3 prototype sportscar and an Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
There were also fitness and simulator elements to the shootout for the four finalists, who were chosen from a longlist of 10, and in addition to the F1 test the prize for the winner included £200,000 and full British Racing Drivers’ Club membership.
Fairclough entered consideration for the award after romping to the British F4 title in 2024, winning 14 races, making the podium eight other times and claiming pole position 15 times. He also came seventh in F4 United Arab Emirates with Hitech GP, and will remain with the team as he steps up to GB3 this year.
“Honestly, this means so, so much. Thank you to every single person, my mum, my dad, my friends. Thank you to Silverstone for setting this up again, 35 years of it, and I hope to follow on in the footsteps of the rest of the winners,” were Fairclough’s first words after finding out he had won at the annual Autosport Awards on Wednesday night (January 29, 2025).
“I am speechless. It was a fantastic two days. Even if I didn’t win I learnt so much, and the other drivers made me put so much into it over the two days. It was weird having no phone, as I was worried about not getting up in time each morning!
“The faces I’ve seen in this building are inspirational. To test an F1 car at 18, not many get to do that, so it is incredible. I am sorry, I am ranting on a bit!”
The losing finalists still have much to look forward to this year. Red Bull junior Lindblad is currently dominating in Formula Regional Oceania, ahead of a step up to Formula 2, Slater is contending for the FRegional Middle East title and Sharp is stepping up to F3. Formula Scout spotted him deep in conservation with Williams team principal James Vowles at the Autosport Awards.
Additional reporting by Jacob Awcock