The Motorsport Australia State Awards, presented by Shannons Insurance, continued tonight with Western Australia celebrating the best of the best from 2022.
 
Hosted by Cameron van den Dungen, the virtual presentation gave the state a chance to look back on what was a busy year and honour individuals who contributed to the sport in addition to the many champions across each discipline.
 
From rally champions Ben Searcy and Daymon Nicoli and WA Speed Series Winner John Webb to the pool of WA Motor Race Championship category winners, all the winners from a competitive 2022 season were recognised. 
 
In the individual awards, it was the off road community who claimed a majority of the accolades, including the best event of the year, which was awarded to the Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race.
 
Serving as the season finale for the 2022 BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC), the event made its long awaited debut on the national calendar. 
 
Already extremely popular from a state point of view, the event usually attracts hundreds of competitors from both bikes and cars, and in 2022, the entry list increased significantly as it did a remarkable job in welcoming this country’s best off roaders. 
 
Two of the key figures behind the event deservedly also received state-wide recognition for their contributions to not just the event, but the sport in general.
 
Kalgoorlie Desert Race Clerk of Course Daniel Rogers was named as the 2022 State Official of the Year, while Event Secretary Jeremy Beck received a Service Award.
 
Not only is Rogers a big contributor to Kalgoorlie, but his outstanding, above and beyond effort for motorsport for a long period of time were key factors behind his award. 


 
His passion for the sport is unrivalled and commits a lot of personal time towards supporting officials and competitors to be able to attend these races. 
 
As for Beck, he has been an office bearer of the Western Desert Racers for more than 20 years, filling the positions of President, Secretary and Club Treasurer.
 
He has also served as an event organiser, timekeeper and/or event secretary at almost every event conducted by Western Desert Racers, as well as many run by Western Australia Off Road Racing Association, Nissan Car Club and the Gascoyne Off Road Club.
 
“Thanks everyone for the nomination and the award. I feel privileged to have worked and learned from some great people in motorsport.
 
From my first event as a 17-year-old organiser at Rover Scout Motorsport, right through to off road racing at national level, as well as state panels and commissions, I can honestly say I have never come across a volunteer or official who is not trying to achieve the best possible outcome for the competitors or public.
 
“Whilst it is great to be recognised with an award. It is equally great to see events prosper and for competitors to compete safely, fairly and with smiles on their faces.”
 
One of those competitors with a bright future in the sport is young off road gun Kayne Nollas, who was named as the 2022 Future Star Award winner.
 
Having travelled and soaked up as much knowledge and experiences on offer, Nollas managed to finish all but one of the events he competed in, including two national rounds.
 
A conscientious, positive-minded and community-inspired 17-year-old, Nollas attended all the local club busy bees to help out wherever he could. 
 
Click here to watch a replay of the WA State Awards, presented by Shannons Insurance. 
 
The next state to hold its award is the joint New South Wales and ACT presentation on Tuesday 28 February.