Dessie Keenan - Billy Coleman Award Finalist

Posted: November 5, 2002 1:18 PM

2002 saw Dessie part take, for the first time, in the Toshiba National Tarmac Championship, and what a year it’s been so far! Out of three of the five rounds already run this year he has had some fantastic results. He took class wins in both the Killarney International Rally of the Lakes and the Isle of Man Manx International Rally. He finished a creditable 3rd in his class on the Stena-Line Ulster Rally and 18th overall, setting some of the fastest stage times amongst his fellow class competitors who mostly consisted of Peugeot Super 206 competitors. This year also saw Dessie receive the ’Joe Mc Gurk‘ Perpetual Trophy at the Castle Hellfire Rally in September. The trophy was a special memorial prize for the winner of Class 14. Dessie while winning this competitive class also managed to finish a credible 7th overall in the Mark II Ford Escort.

Despite taking his sport incredibly seriously, he also receives enormous enjoyment out of it. Dessie was among the many competitors who supported the IRCA organised “Marshals Payback Day’ on August 18th, which enabled marshals to be chauffeured around the track by competitors in their rally cars. It was an enjoyable day for Dessie who like many other rally competitors, relishes the chance to give something back to those indispensable organisers and marshals who make rallying possible.

Dessie realises that being a candidate for the Billy Coleman Award in itself is an achievement. To win accreditation of the Billy Coleman Award would be a sensational boost for Dessie and would help him enhance his driving skills and seek development as a more professional driver ready to compete at the highest level of the sport.