Gareth MacHale Wins 2005 Billy Coleman Award For Young Rally Driver of the Year
Congratulations to 25 year old Gareth MacHale from Rathcoole, Co.Dublin who has been selected as the fifth winner of the Billy Coleman Award. The announcement was made today at a media reception held at Motorsport Ireland’s Headquarters in Dublin.
Along with the title of “Young Rally Driver of the Year”, Gareth will also collect a cheque for €32,000 courtesy of the Irish Sports Council, Motorsport Ireland and its affiliated Rally Clubs.
The final three selected out of fourteen qualifiers were Gareth, 27 year old Kevin Kelleher from Clonakilty, Co.Cork and 24 year old Ian Barrett from Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Kevin receives a cheque for €8,000 as runner up with Ian receiving a cheque for €4,000.
During the year, Gareth achieved outstanding success on the Irish scene in his Toyota Corolla World Rally Car, winning six events outright and finishing 3rd Overall in the inaugural Rally Ireland event in October. Gareth’s performance this season also gained him the 2005 McCauleys National Forest Rally Championship.
The aim of the Award is to encourage Ireland’s young rally drivers to follow in the footsteps of Billy Coleman, who is one of Ireland’s most famous rally drivers to attain International success.
At the reception, John Naylor, Chairman of Motorsport Ireland said “With the profile of Irish Rallying never higher, it is wonderful to see so many young talented drivers coming to the fore and we will be following their careers with great interest”.
The formal presentation of awards will take place at Motorsport Ireland’s Champions Lunch on 24th January 2006 in Dublin.
Driver Profile
Gareth MacHale
Date of Birth: 12.8.80 (age 25)
Nationality: Irish
Home Town: Rathcoole, Co.Dublin
Occupation: Civil Engineer
Hobbies and Interests: GAA, Cycling, Gym and general Motor Sport.
Performance during 2005 Season:
* 1st Overall National Forest Rally Championship
Outright wins at:
* Carrick-on-Suir
* Tipperary
* Wicklow
* Monaghan
* Birr
* Killarney
* 3rd Overall Rally Ireland
Plans for 2006 Season:
During the forthcoming year, I hope to take part in more International events and selected World Championship Rallies based in Europe. I am also considering the Junior World Rally Championship as a precursor to entering the World Rally Championship.
World Rallying is a very physically demanding sport and while I consider myself fit, I believe I have more work to do in this area.
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Driver Profile
Kevin Kelleher
Date of Birth: 20.06.78 (age 27)
Nationality: Irish
Home Town: Clonakilty, Co.Cork
Occupation: Builder
Hobbies and Interests: Fixing up rally cars, helping out on club events, and Golf.
* Performance during 2005 Season: Winner Group N West Cork Rally
* Winner Group N Circuit of Munster
* 2nd Overall Kerry Mini Stages Rally
* 2nd Overall GSMC Mini Stages Rally
* 2nd Overall Southern 4 Championship
* 10th Overall Killarney International Rally of the Lakes
Plans for 2006 Season:
Presently, our Mitsubishi Lancer is being upgraded to Evo IX. We plan to start in both the Dunlop National and Pirelli International Tarmac Championships and depending on how well we are doing, decide which one to focus on.
-o-O-o- Driver Profile
Ian Barrett
Date of Birth: 11.12.81 (age 24)
Nationality: Irish
Home Town: Maynooth, Co.Kildare
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer
Hobbies and Interests:
Karting, Circuit Racing, Running and attending the gym.
* Performance during 2005 Season: 1st Class 4 Border Championship
* 2nd Class 4 and 7th Overall Sligo Stages Rally
* 1st Class 4 Newry & Mourne Stages
* 4th Group N Lurgan Park
* 3rd Group N Donegal Harvest
Plans for 2006 Season:
My 2006 goal is to compete in the entire Dunlop National Championship in Class 4 and also selected rounds in the Pirelli International series.
taken from rally.ie