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Hamilton crowned Sports Personality of the Year
Lewis Hamilton has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year for his world championship triumph in 2014.
Hamilton won his second world title last month after edging a tense battle with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, clinching the crown with victory in the season's final race in Abu Dhabi. The award, voted for by the British public, is to recognise the nation's outstanding sports star of the calendar year.
Hamilton beat golfer and long-time favourite Rory McIlroy, who won both The Open and the US PGA Championship in 2014, and distance runner Jo Pavey, who won the 10,000 metres at the European Championships aged 40, just a year after giving birth to her second child, to the 2014 accolade. He was runner-up to boxer Joe Calzaghe in 2007 and Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy in 2008, the year of his first championship.
Hamilton said: "I am so speechless. Firstly I really want to say a huge congratulations to all the champions, I'm so proud and honoured to be among so much British sporting talent. A massive thank you to all the people that called in, I really was not expecting it - because dude [McIlroy], you had such an incredible year. Tonight has been a huge reminder of just how many great sportsmen we have here. I never thought I would be up here standing with the greats. It's just a dream."
Hamilton becomes the first Formula One driver to win the award since Damon Hill in 1996.
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