A1 award for Bamber

New Zealand may not have had the most successful time in this year's A1 grand prix, but the team has at least featured in the end-of-season accolades.

New Zealand driver Earl Bamber took the award for best overtaking move, one of four special categories voted for by fans around the world.

Bamber was a runaway winner for the best overtaking move of the season. He won it for his manoeuvre on home favourite Jeroen Bleekemolen during the Zandvoort Sprint race in The Netherlands last October.

The A1 grand prix website said the sheer nerve of Bamber's move won him the award. The 18-year-old, driving his first A1GP race, attempted to pass local hero Bleekemolen on a track the Dutch driver had been racing on since he was a boy.

"In torrential rain, Bamber's skill shone through as he initially went to pass Bleekemolen on the outside of the Audi-S Bocht chicane, but Bleekemolen reacted by making a slight mistake, and drifted off course on the exit of the corner.

"Bamber went to the outside on the exit, only for Bleekemolen to immediately come across his path and block him on his return to the track. However, undeterred, Bamber's extra momentum allowed him to dart back to the inside to take the lead early in the race."

"It's a real honour to be recognised for a passing move from my first ever weekend racing for New Zealand in A1GP," Bamber said.

"At the time I never expected to be racing let alone passing someone as experienced as Jeroen at his home A1GP track - it was a really special moment."

Overall, New Zealand finished seventh, a tumble down from their second placing for the last two years.