Motorsport Ireland revamp award for Ireland's best young Rally Drivers

Motorsport Ireland has today announced details of its revamped Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award for 2012.

The award has been handed down to some of Ireland's top drivers in recent years including Gareth McHale, Keith Cronin and Craig Breen. It was established in 2000 to help young Irish rally drivers take the step up to international rallying, following in the footsteps of the famous Billy Coleman.

The new criteria will see Motorsport Ireland select five bi monthly winners of a Young Rally Driver Award beginning for January and February and finishing with an award for September and October all of whom must be under 26 years old. These five winners will then be joined by the winner of the Junior Championship in the Dunlop National Championship, the highest placed eligible driver from the National Forestry Championship and a wildcard selection.

The award, which is supported by the Irish Sports Council, will then be decided between those 8 drivers by a Motorsport Ireland panel with the winner receiving €50,000 worth of support to compete in stage rallies nationally and internationally along with the support of a Billy Coleman Award coordinator to guide them during the year.

The two runners up will both receive a number of free entries in Motorsport Ireland permitted events in the following year along with the mentoring of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman coordinator, who will be Tom Walsh for 2012. Walsh believes this will be a huge boost to young rally drivers across the country; "The changes we have made to the Young Rally Driver of the Year Award will now mean that we will see a better sample representation of Ireland's best young drivers at the selection process stage. It's gives young drivers five opportunities to impress throughout the year in the hope of selection for the award at the end of the year," he said.

"This award is crucial for young drivers in the current climate. With finances so tough it is vital that we support the talent that is there and this award gives them the financial support to compete at a higher level and realise that talent. We have seen that with the likes of Keith Cronin and more recently Craig Breen, so let's hope this will continue," Walsh went on to say.

For more information on the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award see www.motorsportireland.com