Golden Steering Wheel 2022: Winners

At the Golden Steering Wheel gala, the best contemporary Czech racers received their awards. The prestigious award in the car category was won by Formula 2 pilot Roman Staněk and Dakar rally driver Martin Macík. The motorcycle category was won by Moto2 rider Filip Salač and another successful participant in the Dakar rally, Martin Michek. Gabriela Jílková received the Eliška Junková Award, and Roman Staněk was elected talent of the year.

The gala evening, which traditionally culminates the oldest Czech motoring poll, the Golden Steering Wheel, took place this time at the Letenský Chateau in the presence of the top figures in Czech motorsport. A total of 37,185 votes were cast by fans for the best domestic racers of the 2022 season. An expert jury consisting of leading motoring and sports journalists also participated in the final verdict with equal weighting of votes.

This year, the organizers divided the main category into the Golden Steering Wheel for Circuits & Hills and Rally & Offroad. Similarly, the Golden Handlebar for Circuits and Offroad.

The most votes among car drivers and the Golden Steering Wheel award in the Circuits & Hills category went to Formula 3 driver Roman Staněk , who took fifth place overall last year and continues in Formula 2 this season . In the Rally & Offroad category, the trophy went to Dakar driver Martin Macík , who thus expanded his collection of Golden Steering Wheels to three (2022, 2021 and 2020). The award was presented by Milan Poživil, CEO of EVROFIN, and Jozef Becska, Marketing Director of AutoPalace.

The Golden Handlebar Award for 2022 for the best rider in the Circuits category goes to Filip Salač, a MotoGP competitor in the Moto2 class . In the Offroad category, the Golden Handlebar Award went to Martin Michek , a ten-time participant in the Dakar Rally and a holder of many titles, including 4x European Champion. The awards to the most successful riders were presented by Jan Šťovíček, President of the Auto Club of the Czech Republic, member of the FIA World Motorsport Council, and Radek Pokorný, CEO of Engine Group.

The Czech motorsport gala evening was also graced with the presence of the legendary Norwegian rally driver John Haugland, who spent most of his active career with Škoda cars and managed to win many world championship races for the Czech brand. "When I found out that I would receive the Golden Steering Wheel, it was a pleasant surprise. I ended my active racing career more than thirty years ago and have been dedicating myself to my rally school ever since. It is a great honor for me to join the ranks of great racers who received the Golden Steering Wheel before me," says the seventy-seven-year-old racer today. The 2022 World Motorsport Personality Award was received by Adam Jarosz, a member of the board of directors of ORLEN Unipetrol, which also includes the ORLEN Benzina gas station network, which is the main partner of the survey. "We have long supported activities in the automotive sector and motorsports that are in line with the values of the ORLEN Group in the Central European region and in the Czech Republic," says Adam Jarosz, member of the Board of Directors of ORLEN Unipetrol, and adds: "We are honored to support another year of the Golden Steering Wheel awards and to recognize the best Czech drivers and prominent personalities whose successes contribute to the popularization and development of motorsports and are an inspiration for the current and upcoming generation."

Like every year, this year too, there was a vote for the best female racer, and the Eliška Junková award was won for the fifth time by Gabriela Jílková , who is competing in German LMP3 prototype races this year and driving GT4 in France.

The fans and the jury also voted for the Talent of the Year, and Roman Staněk was crowned . The 19-year-old native of Valašské Meziříčí has had success in karting, Formula 4 and 3, and this year he is already competing as a Formula 2 pilot in the Italian team Trident.

The Golden Eye photography competition, which selects the best motorsports photo, has been an integral part of the Golden Steering Wheel contest for several years. This year, the jury was most impressed by the Dakar photo titled "Too Low" by Marian Chytka , who, in addition to the gold trophy, also won a prize in the form of a camera from Canon, the contest's partner.

"This year has once again shown that we have many talented drivers in the Czech Republic who can make a name for themselves even in strong international competition. I am glad that our survey helps to draw attention to them and of course I would like to thank all partners for their support," said Josef Zajíček, organizer of the Golden Steering Wheel survey.

The Golden Steering Wheel poll is the oldest Czech motoring poll and has existed since 1976. In the past, famous drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, Emerson Fittipaldi and many others have received the trophy as part of the poll. The winners are decided by a joint vote of the public and a professional jury. The complete results of the 46th year, including the ranking of all nominees, will be published by the organizer on the poll website www.zlatyvolant.cz.

Awards for 2022

Golden Steering Wheel – World Motorsport Personality: John Haugland

Golden Steering Wheel – Circuits & Peaks: Roman Staněk

Golden Steering Wheel – Rally & Offroad: Martin Macík

Golden Handlebars – Circuits: Filip Salač

Golden Handlebars – Offroad: Martin Michek

Talent of the Year – Roman Staněk

Eliška Junková Award – Gabriela Jílková

Organizer's Award – Contribution to Motorsport: Petr Ptáček