THORPE Bay’s Robert Foster-Jones rubbed shoulders with the stars of Formula One when he attended a presentation ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club on London’s Pall Mall.

Foster-Jones, 18, was invited to the Motor Sports Association’s night of champions event — attended by every British motor sport champion from 2009 — to receive the MSA British Short Circuit Kart Champions’ Trophy.

He shared the stage with guest of honour, Ross Brawn, team principal of Brawn GP (now Mercedes GP, who received the Sir Malcolm Campbell Memorial Trophy in honour of his team’s achievement in winning the Formula 1 World Championship with Jenson Button last year.

Button himself would have received the Hawthorn Trophy for his exploits in 2009, but pre-season commitments prevented him attending although he was able to send a video message of thanks to the assembled guests.

Foster-Jones was a long way behind in third place in the Super 1 kart championship going into the last meeting of the 2009 season.

But he won the first race at that finale and backed his main rival into the chasing pack to make him lose points.

Then third place in race two was enough for the title after his rival was excluded by the clerk of the course for dangerous driving. Foster-Jones is now planning a move into Formula Renault for the 2010 season.

He said: “It was a bit of a surprise to take the title in the final round of the championship but it felt incredible.

“It was terrific to be given my trophy at the Royal Automobile Club in front of Ross Brawn and the other British champions.”