Distinguished by a galaxy of National Champions across various categories, the evening shimmered with the brilliance of motorsport excellence. Among the stars that lit up the evening was none other than Madison Down, seizing the crown as the Logitech G Pro Invitational series champion. Madison's prowess on the track was matched only by his cool demeanor and professionalism, setting the stage for an unforgettable season.

Sharing the spotlight were icons like Paul Morris and Frank Lowndes, inducted as life members, adding another layer of prestige to the event. The esteemed Peter Brock Medal found a deserving recipient in reigning Supercars champion and former Pro Invitational Series driver Brodie Kostecki, while the Young Driver of the Year accolade was bestowed upon the promising talent of Aaron Love.

In an industry steeped in tradition and history, the inclusion of Sim Racing at such a prestigious event underscores its rising prominence. Madison Down's presence among such elite company serves as a testament to the growing significance of virtual motorsport on the global stage.

We took a minute to talk to Madison about the night:

R: First of all, how was the night, was it everything you expected?

MD: The night was amazing. The night itself was what I expected; however it was fantastic to see and experience a Motorsport Australia Gala Awards. Having so many high achieving, deserving winners and national champions in one room was awesome.

R: What was it like rubbing shoulders with Australias best drivers and legends of the sport?

MD: It was surreal to be sharing a room and the stage with legends of the sport that I’ve looked up to for many years. There were plenty of legends and plenty of new upcoming stars that had achieved huge results and you could definitely sense the feeling of achievement and proudness in the room.

R: Did you ever think that this opportunity would be available to you in Sim Racing?

MD: No, when I look back over the last 15 years I never expected that Motorsport Australia would recognise Sim Racing as a National category officially affiliated. I hope that the relationship between Motorsport Australia and Sim Racing continues to grow moving forward and opportunities for the two to align and work together in the future.

R: Were you nervous giving your speech?

MD: Absolutely! As much as I wanted to get the trophy and was proud of the achievement, I certainly haven’t felt nerves like that in a while. I don’t think anyone enjoys public speaking but I could certainly feel and hear my voice shaking but overall I’ve tried not to focus too much on that part of the night. I enjoyed it for what it was, did the best I could and I guess approached it all in a similar way to my racing.

R: It’s a great-looking trophy, where is that being put at your place?

MD: The trophy looks amazing, it’ll be on display in a trophy cabinet next to my sim rig at home next to the 2023 Logitech G Pro invitational Trophies!

R: And finally, how keen are you to head back to the awards night again next year, and how will you make this happen?

MD: Super keen to head back to the awards next year! I had a lot of fun down in Melbourne for the weekend, it was an amazing experience and I loved every second. For me, the approach will be similar to how I’ve always approached going for titles, focus on speed and focus even more on always maximising the result. We will be working hard in 2024 to defend that title proudly sporting the #1 on the windows but I know that every other car in the field will want to make that as difficult as possible!

Cheers Madison, we look forward top seeing the car #1 back on the grid for Round 1 in March.