Alice Powell added another sring to her bow when striking gold at Europe’s leading racing car show, Autosport International.

Powell scooped the coveted BWRDC GoldStars Award – presented to her by the legendary Sir Stirling Moss.

In front of a huge crowd surrounding the British Women’s Racing Drivers Club (BWRDC) stand, the Formula Renault driver stepped forward to accept the prestigious honour, awarded on merit to a junior member who has shown the capability of and aspires to become a professional driver.

Already spotted as a rising star of the future, Powell, who lives in Chipping Norton and attends Cotswold School, near Cheltenham, said: ”When I heard my name read out, I thought ‘Wow’!

“And to have Stirling Moss present the award it’s just fantastic.”

Powell added: “It’s a real honour to get recognition. Few women have made it in motorsport and no one has made a real impact in F1 – that is my ambition.

“I think the time is right, if a girl is out there doing well then more women would watch Formula 1 – it would definitely make it more exciting.”