The Autosport awards take place on December 2nd and as a testament to the growing impact of Formula One they will be televised for the first time.

Started 26 years ago, ITV1 will be televising the award ceremony, with the broadcast going out on December 4th, that is widely regarded as the biggest and best-attended event in the motorsport awards calendar.

Lewis Hamilton’s performances for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team have seen him become the first British driver to finish inside the top two since 2001 when David Coulthard finished second.

A British driver has not won the championship since 1996, when Damon Hill was victorious and Hamilton’s revival has been widely stated as the main reason for the surge in the sport’s popularity.

Viewing figures in Britain have jumped by 40 per cent this season, according to Grandprix.com, which has prompted ITV to televise the event.

Hamilton may also find himself in line for an award after scoring 109 points in his debut season in Formula One and missing out on the title by just a single point.

However if he fails to pick up a prize at the Autosport awards, the FIA Awards in Monte Carlo follow just a few days later.

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