ALMC Club Presentation to Robert Barrable

Robert Barrable & Damien Connolly Citroen Trophy Ireland & UK Champions

Posted: November 4, 2010 2:35 PM

ALMC club member Robert Barrable and his co-driver Damien Connolly winners of the Citroen Racing Ireland and UK Trophies 2010 in their C2R2 Max were presented with an award at a special ALMC Motor Club presentation in the City North Hotel. The 2010 champions in both the UK and Irish competitions were presented with the award by ALMC club chairman John Carroll in advance of the clubs monthly meeting at the hotel on Wednesday night. Their championship winning car was present at the ceremony along with fellow members of the ALMC club including Robert’s father Michael Barrable who has competed in both circuit racing and rallying in Ireland with great success. The presentation has capped the end of a fantastic season for Robert, Damien and the Evolution Motorsport team with Robert clinching both titles in his first year competing in the Citroën.

Robert started his motorsport career in racing karts in 2005 graduating to Irish Formula Ford in 2007 where his talent and race craft was rewarded when he won the Irish championship and select rounds of the UK equivalent. He then made the switch to rallying in 2009 competing in the Ford Fiesta Sport Trophy in Ireland and the UK; he featured in the top three on several rounds in both championships while learning the techniques of rallying on gravel and tarmac surfaces. At the end of his one year spell in the Fiesta Trophy Robert teamed up with his now regular co-driver Damien Connolly and switched to the more lucrative Citroën Trophy, purchasing the latest specification C2R2 in his quest for championship glory. Robert brought with him to the championship all the experience he had gained in the Fiesta Trophy to the newly acquired C2R2 which was quickly reflected in his results, with the young Dubliner securing two wins and two seconds to clinch the Irish Trophy and a near perfect score in the UK Championship winning four rounds out of six to take a commanding win in the UK Trophy.

“It has been a fantastic year for Damien, the team and myself, to clinch both titles is a dream come through and to be honored by the club is fantastic. The ALMC club run a number of good events and I always when I can compete on the ALMC Stages Rally which is my home rally and is always a great event!” commented Robert on receiving the ALMC presentation.

To add to his UK and Irish championship wins Robert has also received a nomination for the 2010 Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award. The award carries with it a coveted first prize of €50,000 to help further the winning driver’s motor sport career. Robert and the other seven contenders will put forward their case for winning the award during an interview process to be held on November 16th where their performance during 2010 and their plans for 2011 will be reviewed. Robert also hopes to represent Ireland in the inaugural FIA Institute Young Driver Academy, which takes place in Austria at the beginning of February 2011.

“It is great to have the likes of Robert and so many other talented drivers and co drivers competing in the top end of rallying, the members are very proud of Roberts achievements and it is great to have him as a member of the ALMC Motor Club” said John Carroll ALMC Club Chairman. ALMC Motor Club run a number of motorsport events throughout the year in counties Meath, Louth and Dublin the highlight of which is the annual stages rally which takes place in July each year. The club also runs a charity motor show at City North Hotel in May in aid of the Jack & Jill foundation and a multi venue Autotest in April each year with the clubs rallysprint rounding out the year’s activities in October. The club meets on the first Wednesday of each month in the City North Hotel at 8pm and all are welcome to attend.