The motorsport careers of Derry’s Josh McErlean and Kildare’s James Roe Jnr. received a major boost in terms of finance and prestige after they were honoured at the MIS Motorsport Champions of Irish Motorsport awards ceremony at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin yesterday.

Despite the increasing popularity of rallysprints organised throughout the country by the Rallysport Association, the chief executive of Motorsport Ireland, Alex Sinclair, admitted they have no plans to counteract a development which is causing concern amongst MI affiliated clubs.

A passion for motorsport engendered by rally icon Billy Coleman has inspired Cork native John Campion to assist a group of young talented drivers.

Killarney’s Rob Duggan (22) and Jake Byrne (21) from Blackwood, near Naas scooped the top awards at the Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Awards ceremony in Dublin yesterday.