Four-time IndyCar Series champion and three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Dario Franchitti MBE has become the 99th Scottish Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

Recognised at the Scottish Sports Awards on Wednesday 7 December 2022, Franchitti, who retired in 2013, was celebrated as one of Britain’s most successful drivers of all time in an evening where all of Scottish sport was celebrated.

Franchitti joins Louise Aitken-Walker MBE, Jim Clark OBE, Colin McRae MBE and Sir Jackie Stewart OBE as four-wheel motorsport inductees in the Hall of Fame.

On receiving the Award, Franchitti commented, “Thank you so much Sport Scotland for this honour. It’s a nice excuse to look backwards and think about all the stuff that’s happened.

“At times like this you realise what a selfish endeavour competing was, certainly for me. The support I had from friends, family and certain individuals; this recognition is as much about them as it is as me.

“When you think about Scotland, a small country, we really punch above our weight in all kinds of sport. That’s happened in the past and it’s happening currently too. In motorsport we had Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, our heroes, and I grew up in a time period with Colin McRae, winning the World Rally Championship, Allan McNish, three time Le Mans winner, David Coulthard, 13 Grand Prix wins, David Leslie, John Cleland winning in British Touring Cars as well as Steve Hislop and Neil McKenzie, in bikes.

“I was running at the back trying to keep my end of the bargain up and I was so proud to be a part of that group of competitors.

“If you told me at 10 years old after my first race in Larkhall that I would win the races that I did, I would’ve said you were mad. But that is the power of sport, it can make your dreams come true.

“Thank you for the recognition for living my dream.”