At the Victorian Formula 500 Association awards ceremony in Warrnambool on Saturday night, Bell came home with a swag of honours.

The 18-year-old won the rookie of the year and drivers driver of the year awards.

He also finished third in the Victorian Stampede Series, behind James Aranyosi in first place and Ben Telindert in second.

Bell is no stranger to carrying home a bag of trophies after being a big winner this time last year in the junior sedan promoters awards.

Among the awards collected by Bell on that occasion was the Victorian driver of the year.

This success helped him make the decision to step up to formula 500 racing, a move that has been a successful one.

“I am really happy with how my first year went in formula 500. I went in with no expectations. I knew it was going to be a big step up,” Bell said.

“The aim in my first year was to get as much experience as I could. It was about getting in plenty of laps to help me become a better driver.”

Bell wasted no time in announcing himself as a serious competitor on the formula 500 circuit with some big results during the summer season.

He travelled to Murray Bridge in February where he claimed the South Australian title.

He went to Brisbane where he was fourth in the Queensland title and headed further north to Rockhampton for the national championships. He was on track for a high finish, cruising along in eight place, before an accident put him out of contention.

In all he competed at 22 race meetings over the season with the majority of those here in Victoria.

Other local winners at the formula 500 awards night on Saturday included Woodford’s Jett Speed who along with Josh Buckingham won the encouragement award. 

Speed was also runner up to Bell in the rookie of the year award.

Warrnambool’s Dylan Willsher won the outstanding performance award as did Steve Horton while Tyler Owen from Warrnambool was first in the Jettco series.

In other awards Terry Rankin was most improved, Trevor Cotterill won the president’s award, Steve Lozza the appreciation award and the Buckingham Team who won the hard luck award.