Dunlop Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards - 5 Dec 06

Posted: December 11, 2006 11:40 AM

Motorsport Ireland today honoured their National Champions of 2006 at a prestigious gala lunch held at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Dublin. The lunch was attended by personalities spanning over 70 years of historic achievement in the sport.

Among the many highlights were:

19 Year-old Owen Murphy from Ovens in Co.Cork was announced as the Young Rally Driver of the Year and was presented with the Billy Coleman Award and a cheque for €35,000. Runner up spot went to Keith Cronin from Bantry, along with a cheque for €10,000 and in third place was Ian Barrett from Maynooth, Co.Kildare, who collected a cheque for €5,000.

It was third time lucky for Paddy Hogan, who had twice before made the final three. The 23 year-old from Killiney, Co.Dublin, was selected as the Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Year and presented with the prestigious Walter Sexton Memorial Trophy and a cheque for €35,000. Dundalk’s Niall Breen picked up the second place award and €10,000, with 18 year-old Niall Quinn from Dunboyne, Co.Meath taking the final place on the podium along with a cheque for €5,000.

Ex-Lotus Grand Prix Driver, Martin Donnelly from Belfast, was inducted into Irish motorsport’s Hall of Fame. Martin competed with success at the highest level of World Motorsport in the 1980’s and is a worthy addition to the list of recipients of this award.

World Rally Championship driver, Gareth MacHale from Rathcoole, Co.Dublin was voted by the Motorsport media as the International Driver of the Year and winner of the Manley Memorial Trophy.

All rounder, Dermot Carnegie picked up two awards. Not only was he crowned National Rallycross Champion, he also won the Ivan Webb Memorial Trophy for his outstanding contribution to the sport, both as a competitor and a supporter over many years.

Uniquely, Co.Derry brothers, Charlie and Eugene Donnelly scooped two of the major Rally awards - Charlie won the Dunlop National and Eugene the Tarmac Championship.

Announcing the awards, John Naylor, President of Motorsport Ireland, expressed how proud he is of all that the sport has achieved in the past year, including the announcement that Ireland will host a round of the FIA World Rally Championship in November 2007. John also thanked the Irish Sports Council for their valued support and encouragement in the development of the sport over recent years, particularly in relation to our two young drivers’ awards schemes and the creation of a stranding scheme for our high achievers.

Motorsport Ireland