Lewis Hamilton beats Rory McIlroy to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has been voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014, ahead of Rory McIlroy and Jo Pavey.

The Mercedes driver won his second drivers' title this year while he also eclipsed Nigel Mansell as the Briton with the most career race wins.

Golfer McIlroy, who won two major titles and played a role in the victorious European Ryder Cup team, finished second.

Pavey, 40, the oldest European athletics champion after her win in the women's 10,000m, was third.

"I am so speechless," said Hamilton. "I want to say thank you to all the champions. I am so proud and honoured to be among such great sporting talent. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who called in...I couldn't have done this without my amazing team.

"I want to thank my family. I've been incredibly inspired by my family and tonight has been an incredible reminder how many great sportsmen we have here. I came here many years ago and it's just a dream."

Hamilton, twice a runner-up in 2007 and 2008, received 209,920 of the 620,932 votes. Double dressage world champion Charlotte Dujardin and Paralympic skiing gold medallists Kelly Gallagher and Charlotte Evans completed the top five.

Europe Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley won the coach of the year award and England's women rugby players won the team of the year after their World Cup triumph.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid and Portugal footballer Cristian Ronaldo scooped the overseas personality of the year, while the young sports personality prize was scooped by four-time Commonwealth Games gymnastics champion Claudia Fragapane.