It was among the slowest Formula One cars in 2007, but Honda's controversial 'earth car' has scooped a prize.

The Japanese manufacturer, although derided far and wide for delivering a hypocritical message in a wasteful sport, last Friday won the aptly named 'Grand Prix' prize at the second Green Awards.

Held at the Guildhall in London, the second annual Green Awards rewards business for communicating sustainability in a creative and original way.

Honda sacrificed all sponsor space on its 2007 Formula One single seater, the RA107, for a satellite image of the globe, to raise awareness about environmental issues.

The 'earth car' campaign "best exemplified an outstanding environmental message and had the greatest capacity to raise awareness among the general public", according to the judging panel.

Although controversial, the judges felt the campaign's "imaginative response ... got people thinking, and had many reappraise their relationship with the sport".

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