Sir Frank Williams last night received the Motorsport Industry Association's (MIA) personal Award for the Most Outstanding Contribution to the UK Motorsport Industry.

The award was presented by former World Drivers' Champion Nigel Mansell OBE, at the MIA's annual Summer reception at the House of Lords. Sir Frank joins a highly impressive list of previous winners, including fellow knights of the realm Sir Stirling Moss OBE and Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, plus Tom Wheatcroft, David Richards CBE and Bernie Ecclestone.

His WilliamsF1 team has amassed seven Drivers' titles to date and no less than nine Constructors' championships. Though Sir Frank first entered F1 as a private entrant in 1969, it was not until he joined forces with talented designer Patrick Head and secured major backing from Saudi Airlines that sustained success beckoned. A brand new factory was created in Didcot and Clay Regazzoni scored the team's first F1 win in 1979, fittingly on home soil – the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Australian Alan Jones landed the team their first World title the following year, with Finn Keke Rosberg adding another two years later. Now, 24 years on, it seems most fitting that Sir Frank has launched the Grand Prix career of Keke's talented son, Nico.

Williams also helped Englishmen Nigel Mansell (1992) and Damon Hill (1996) to their World titles – like Nigel, Damon (the newly elected President of the BRDC) was in attendance at Monday night's event.

Sir Frank's stoicism is exceptional in the fact that he has been paralysed since 1986, as a result of injuries sustained in a road accident in France. Nevertheless, he continues to head his team at Grands Prix throughout the world and to field superbly engineered and competitive cars, year upon year.

His personal contribution to the global motorsport industry in general, and F1 in particular, is unique and immeasurable. Also, his commitment to UK Inc., by way of employing literally thousands of people over the years and providing business for countless suppliers: many of whom have grown into household names as a result.