Lewis Hamilton pips Rory McIlroy to take BBC sports personality award

Formula One driver beats golfer in telephone vote, while other winners include Paul McGinley, England women’s rugby team and Cristiano RonaldoLewis Hamilton defied the heavy favouritism bestowed on Rory McIlroy, as the Formula One world champion won the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award in Glasgow on Sunday evening.With minutes to go before the winner was announced, McIlroy was heavily favoured to become the first golfer in 25 years to lift the trophy. Instead, Hamilton prevailed with 209, 920 telephone votes from 620,932 cast, with the golfer edged into second place on 123, 745. Athl…