MOTORSPORT Billy Coleman Award - Young Rally Driver of the Year

Motorsport Ireland is delighted to announce that the winner of the 2010 Billy Coleman Award for the Young Rally Driver of the Year is Robert Barrable.

Robert, from Swords, Co Dublin, is 23 years old and made his debut in rallying in 2009, having made the transition from a successful career in racing which saw him win the Irish Formula Ford Championship and the Leinster Trophy race in 2008. He also took third place in the Young Driver of the Year Award for the Dunlop Sexton Trophy in the same year.

In winning three separate Rally championships in 2010 Robert has shown his considerable talent and his adaptability to both tarmac and gravel surfaces.

The highlights of his year included success in both the Citroen Racing Trophy Ireland series and its UK equivalent, as well as winning Class R2 in the MSA British Rally Championship. He finished in eighth place overall in the International Rally of the Lakes and ninth in the Cork 20 International in his 1.6 litre Citroen C2R2 Max, beating several 4 wheel drive turbocharged cars in the process.

Robert's plans for 2011 are to contest the British Rally Championship once again, driving either a Skoda in Super 2000 specification or a Group N car, as well as selected rounds of the Irish Tarmac Championship. He also intends to tackle a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge during the year.

The other drivers who reached the interview stage of the Award are: Michael Carbin, Ian Downey, Damien McCarthy, Darren McKenna, Kevin O'Connor and Mark Wedlock.

The Billy Coleman Award is presented annually to the most outstanding young Rally driver during the current year. The award consists of a support package for Rally competition in 2011 to the value of €50,000.

Funding for the award is provided jointly by Motorsport Ireland through its affiliated clubs and the Irish Sports Council.

The formal presentation will take place at the Dunlop Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin at 12 noon on Tuesday 7 December 2010.