Button takes top motorsport award

Button enjoyed a very successful season in 2004

Britain's Jenson Button has been named international racing driver of the year by readers of Autosport magazine.

The BAR driver, who was presented with his award by Mika Hakkinen, finished third in the drivers championship.

He admitted he was surprised to have beaten world champion Michael Schumacher to the honour.

"I feel a little bit embarrassed holding this up because Michael won so many races and destroyed us in the championship," said Button.

Schumacher, who lost out to Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya for last year's award, won his seventh world title this year, winning 13 of the 18 races during the season.

There was some consolation for Ferrari, whose F2004 was voted racing car of the year, an award accepted by chief designer Rory Byrne.

American AJ Allmendinger, who races in the US-based Champ Car series, was named as rookie of the year while French world champion Sebastien Loeb was international rally driver of the year.

DiResta 'destined for greatness'

Scottish teenager Paul di Resta, a cousin of Indy Racing League driver Dario Franchitti, won the McLaren Autosport BDRC Young Driver of the Year award, following in the footsteps of Button, David Coulthard and Franchitti.

The 18-year-old wins £50,000 and a test drive with the McLaren F1 team.