Hero's awarded at Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards

Monaghan ace Daniel McKenna was today named as the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year, beating off still competition from Dean Raftery and Stephan Wright.

McKenna in action in Monaghan

Having been runner up last year Sam Moffett, McKenna landed the award after some sterling drives this season, two examples of which being outright wins on the Midland Moto Rally, as well as winning the Monaghan Stages after an amazing fight with Gary McPhillips. The Monaghan Stages witnessed McKenna's car being shortened somewhat after hitting something rather substantial.

The Billy Coleman Award, named after the 1984 Irish Tarmac Rally Champion, awards €50,000 to the driver that is deemed to have come out on top after a series of examinations. Previous winners include Gareth MacHale, who went on to win the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, and the late Rory Galligan, the inaugural winner and latterly Mitsubishi works driver in the BRC.

S-WRC Champion for 2012, Craig Breen, won the Driver of the Year Award after claiming his second World Title in as many years, but under some terrible circumstances.

Breen said: "In the aftermath of the accident it took some time to decide on my next step but after making the decision to continue, I knew it was the correct one. I love every minute of what I do and it's times like this that I can look back on in years to come. The second half of the season has been difficult at times but to come back and win three rounds out of four in the SWRC has been very rewarding. I want to again thank everyone who supported me, it would not have been possible without you."

Brian O'Mahony at the Donegal
Harvest Rally

Enda Sherry received his and driver Darren Gass' award for winning the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship this year. Brian O'Mahony and John Higgins went home with the Vard Memorial Trophy as Irish National Rally Champions. Garry Jennings took the award for Irish Forestry Rally Champion, with Arthur Kierans winning the co-driver's award.

Eoin Longworth (Birr and District Motor Club) was awarded the Ivan Webb Memorial Trophy as Most Outstanding Contribution to Motorsport, having been an important piece of the motorsport puzzle in Ireland. Former Tarmac Rally Champion co-driver Paul Kiely added another trophy to his mantle piece as he took the JC Millard Memorial Award for Clubman of the Year, assisting with the running of the Sligo Stages Rally and having input into the Dunlop National Rally Championship. Sylvie Mullins collected his award as National Hillclimb/Sprint Champion, ending the long-time domination of Simon McKinley.

Mullins at the final National
Hillclimb Championship round

“2012 has been an excellent year for Irish motorsport across all the disciplines. We have seen three Irish world champions crowned over the past month or so and we have also seen many of our drivers succeeding nationally and internationally, which is hugely encouraging. While the economic climate has made it increasingly difficult to compete we are doing all we can to support Motorsport in Ireland and if we can continue the way we are going we will see more World champions in the future.” said Motorsport Ireland President Joe Corcoran.


Note: Daniel McKenna Monaghan Rally image copyright to Declan Boyle/DBPics, all others copyright to Global Rally News/Jordan Murphy. No unauthorised use.