MOTORSPORT: Dempsey Delighted with Second Dunlop Young Driver of the Year
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Irishman Peter Dempsey was delighted to win the Motorsport Ireland Dunlop Young Driver of the year for 2008. Dempsey who has been racing in the American Star Mazda Championship in 2008, where he finished third in the championship with four Wins, seven podiums, three pole positions, four fastest laps and two track records, was very proud when it was announced that he had won the Motorsport Ireland Dunlop Young Driver of the Year for the second time. |
Peter said: "I am delighted and very proud about winning this award, I would like to thank Motorsport Ireland, Dunlop and the Sports Council for putting up such a great prize, I would also like to thank all the people who helped me during the year, without them it would not have been possible. I am really excited with getting the chance to test the A1 GP Team Ireland car as part of the prize and hopefully I can impress them enough to get a regular drive. The first half of this season was a bit of a disaster, it took me longer than I expected to get used to the culture change, it was also my first time away from the family team and I had to adapt my driving style to the car. In the end it all came together and I was unlucky not to win the championship when I got taken out while lying second with one race to go."
It was back in 2005 that Peter last won this award, then he went on to finish third in the UK Formula Ford Duratec Championship 2006, winning four races and was the first driver to win in the new Duratec Formula Ford car, when he won the opening round at Oulton Park.
Dempsey has been nominated for this award every year since first winning it in 2005, this must be a record in itself but winning this prestigious award for 2008 is a bit special as it is Peter's last year when he can qualify as a young driver as he will be over the age next season.
For 2009 Peter is evaluating the Indy Lights Championship, he has already tested an Indy Lights car with Andersen Racing, the team who ran him in the Star Mazda Championship but it will be down to securing the budget, so the hard work starts now.
For more infomation contact:
www.andersenracingteam.com
www.starmazda.com
www.peterdempsey.com