Mike Kable Young Gun Award

Mike Kable Young Gun Award
Awarded for	Best young driver in V8 Supercars.
Country	Australia
Presented by	V8 Supercars
Reward(s)	Trophy, sponsorship grant
First awarded	2000
Currently held by	Ashley Walsh

The Mike Kable 'Young Gun' Award, formally known as the Mike Kable Rookie of the Year Award, is an Australian award for the best young driver in V8 Supercars. The award is dedicated to the memory of the widely respected motoring journalist, Mike Kable.

Mike Kable was a long-time motor racing journalist, who originally worked for The Australian for almost three decades and then as a freelance journalist. After his death from cancer in May 2000, the then AVESCO chairman Tony Cochrane named the new award in his honour. "Mike Kable will forever remain an inspiration for his vision and unwavering support of young drivers and his contribution to the V8 Supercar category," Cochrane said. "Mike was both a friend and unabashed publicist to a host of up-and coming motor racing talent from Craig Lowndes, to Mick Doohan and Sir Jack Brabham. He was always looking for the next great driver and I am honoured to name this prestigious award after him," he concluded.

The award includes a AU$15,000 sponsorship grant to aid in the development of the recipient. The award largely replaced the Bathurst 1000 rookie of the year award which ceased being used at around the same time.

Four recipients of the award, Marcos Ambrose, Rick Kelly, Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney, have gone on to win the V8 Supercars championship title later in their career.

The medal is awarded to the rookie of the year for the season in either the main series (V8 Supercars) or the Development Series. It is voted on by the motor sport media, including Mike Kable’s former colleagues, which provides an independent perspective on who has been the best rookie throughout the V8 Supercars season.

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