"Pukekohe was a special place for Jason, having started his career there," said Charlotte. "He'd be absolutely over the moon having a trophy named for him. You probably only think these things when you know you're dying, but Jason said to me, 'I know it's only natural that people move on and forget about people.'
"It used to worry him that in the end people would forget about him as time goes on - not close family and friends - but others. So having something like this trophy just keeps his legacy and his part in motorsport in people's minds."
Richards was one of the most respected and loved drivers in pit lane and his passing, at the age of just 35, hit the sport hard.
At the time of his death, the former CEO of the category, Tony Cochrane, said: "There was not a single person in Australian sport, or indeed Australia and his native New Zealand, who did not admire his enormous courage as he battled the last 14 months and his determination to fight in every way he could. He will be dearly missed by all in the V8 Supercar family, but in particular, everybody associated with Brad Jones Racing."
In a script fit for Hollywood, on Sunday afternoon last year, Charlotte handed the trophy over to Richards' teammate at BJR, an emotional Jason Bright.
Charlotte will not be at this weekend's event, as she and the couple's two daughters, Sienna and Olivia, are back in the UK visiting family, and at the time of going to press it hadn't been decided who would be handing the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy to the round winner.
"It was pretty emotional last year but you couldn't have wished for a better ending the way it panned out," said Charlotte. "Poor old Brighty had so much pressure on him with Sienna having decided he was going to win and drawing him a congratulation picture she presented to him on the podium, which she had already drawn before the start of the last race."
Bright hasn't got his 2014 campaign off to the best of starts and will be hoping he can win the round again.
Before flying out to England Charlotte was at dinner with good friend, neighbour and former V8 Supercars driver John Bowe and he asked Sienna who she wanted to win daddy's trophy this year. Without any hesitation, Sienna said she wanted Bright to win it again, but Fabian Coulthard would be good as well.
"Either way BJR have a lot of pressure on them," said Charlotte. "Fingers crossed, and Fabian is showing a lot of speed at the moment."
Charlotte has retained close links to the motorsport fraternity. It was one of Richards' last wishes that the girls remain in touch with motorsport so they realise how important it was to their dad.
"They love it, especially Sienna who is almost 7 now. She loves it and chats to the drivers and watches JB [John Bowe] a lot. There isn't a time I go to the track and look at the girls getting involved and don't tear up.
"It's just that I can picture Jason getting into, or out of, the car. You know, I just feel so ripped off that he was taken from us way too soon."
Charlotte Richards' message to fans and supporters:
"I would like to thank everyone for their amazing support and love that they showed us right from the start of the diagnosis right through until today. I'd also like to thank everyone who takes the time to post messages on Facebook on the anniversary and that's very special too. Thank you for still thinking of Jason and us, and I would like to say that all the fans were a big part of Jason's life and he appreciated you all."
