A Motor Sport evening with Alan Prost

I wouldn’t usually feel it necessary to tell you about our office Christmas party, but this year’s Motor Sport celebration was more noteworthy than usual and there wasn’t a novelty jumper in sight (bah, humbug!). We were joined by stars from track and TV to mark not just the beginning of the festive season and the end of a pulsating Formula 1 season but also to celebrate one of the all time greats: Alain Prost.

In the evocative surrounds of the Old War Office in Whitehall, now converted into the Raffles London hotel, guests were treated to a champagne reception and a stage show hosted by Formula E and BTCC anchor Nicki Shields and Sky commentator and Motor Sport columnist Karun Chandhok. Guests included magazine proprietor Edward Atkin, Haas F1 team principal Ayao Komatsu, fresh off a plane from the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Martin Brundle, Richard Attwood, Jonathan Palmer and Claire Williams. New McLaren Hypercar boss James Barclay heralded a golden age of sports car racing and TT legend John McGuinness described why he can’t stop competing.

The night was enlivened with nostalgia-inducing racing footage from 1985, which had been ferreted out by Steve Rider and his team at Racing Past Media and the BRM archive, while a pristine McLaren MP4/2B, loaned for the event by Garage 59, took pride of place in the centre of the star-studded room. But the evening belonged to four-time world champion Prost who was guest of honour to mark the 40th anniversary of his first world title for McLaren in 1985. On behalf of Motor Sport he was presented with an Amalgam model of his McLaren by former team manager Jo Ramirez and designer Steve Nichols.
Our thanks to our partner for the evening, watchmaker and long-time supporter of the magazine, Richard Mille.

And our festive best wishes to all of you, our loyal readers and subscribers. Please keep your letters and emails coming in telling us what you want from your magazine and in the meantime from the team here at Motor Sport we wish you a very happy 2026.

Steve Rider had hoped to attend our party but sadly ill health kept him away. Motor Sport wishes him a speedy recovery. Steve, who joined the BBC in 1985, retired from presenting coverage of the British Touring Car Championship in the summer. At the series’ prize-giving in November he was awarded the TOCA Trophy, which recognises unique contributions to the BTCC. Five days later he received the Special Recognition award at the Broadcast Sports Awards. Congratulations to Steve on two richly deserved awards that recognise his incredible contribution to sport in general and motor sport in particular.

Joe Dunn, editor
Follow Joe on X @joedunn90