Raftery ready to take on world

Dean Raftery is ready to make his mark in the World Rally Championship after being honoured at the Irish Motorsport Awards yesterday.

Irish motorsport saluted its champions yesterday at the Dunlop Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards ceremony, where the principal winners were Galway’s Dean Raftery, who scooped the Billy Coleman Young Driver of the Year Award while Antrim’s Jonny McMullan was awarded the Dunlop Sexton Trophy for the Young Racing Driver of the Year.

Both drivers also netted €50,000 worth of support for next season.

Considered unlucky not to have won the award previously, Raftery could scarcely hide his joy at winning the most important accolade for a young Irish rally driver.

“I’m incredibly honoured and I have to admit, very relieved to have won this prestigious award,” said Raftery. He beat off Monaghan’s Josh Moffett and Donegal’s Kevin Eves to take the prestigious award. A karter at eight years of age, Griffin switched to Junior Rallycross before he started rallying in 2011. The former Junior National Forestry champion had strong results in this season’s British Rally Championship and enjoyed a good outing in Rally GB. He intends to compete in the Fiesta Trophy category within the World Rally Championship. “The international recognition that goes with winning the Billy Coleman award cannot be underestimated,” said Raftery. “I want to be one of the best professional rally drivers to come from Ireland, and I can now see a clearer path to achieving my ultimate goal of succeeding at a world recognised level.”

Cork racer Matt Griffin, a full Ferrari factory driver, was selected by the members of the Irish Motor Sport Media as the International Driver of the Year and recipient of the prestigious Manley Memorial Trophy.

Griffin’s exploits around the globe including the major endurance races earned him the prestigious Manley Memorial Trophy as the International Driver of the Year award, whose previous winners included Austin MacHale, Eddie Irvine, Kris Meeke and Keith Cronin.

“When you look at the past winners it is such an honour,” said Griffin.

“I just love racing cars. This award carries with it a great responsibility and is as big an incentive as I have ever had to continue to strive to win more in the future.”

Jonny McMullan (22) from Newtownabbey, Antrim was awarded the Dunlop Sexton Trophy for Young Racing Driver of the Year ahead of runners up Jake Byrne and Sean Doyle. Moving from karting to single-seater racing in 2009, he was runner-up in the final of the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and finished third in the Leinster Trophy feature race at Mondello Park,

The Ivan Webb Memorial award for the Most Outstanding Contribution to Irish Motorsport went to Wexford’s Pat O’Dowd; the JC Millard Memorial Award for Clubman of the Year went to Seamus Anderson from Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny for his contribution to the sport.

Commenting at the awards, Motorsport Ireland president Joe Corcoran said: “The award schemes provide great excitement for the motorsport community, as the package gives the winners the opportunity to greatly enhance their careers.”

Irish Motorsport Awards winners:

National Rallycross Champion: Declan Kelly, Tallaght.

National Autocross Saloon Champion: Ian O’Connell, Sandyford.

Nationalist Autocross Special Champion: Padraic McHale, Maynooth.

National Autocross Loose Surface Champion: Derek Dean, Williamstown, Co. Galway.

National Autocross Loose Surface Champion: Derek Mackarel, Clones.

National Hewison Autotest Champion: Steven Ferguson, Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone.

National Hillclimb/Sprint Champion: Simon McKinley, Naul, Co. Meath.

National Hillclimb/Sprint Saloon Champion: Eanna Carroll, Loughrea.

Winner of the J.C.Millard Memorial Trophy (Clubman of the Year): Seamus Anderson, Mullinavat.

Karting Champions

National Junior Kart Champion: Shane Mullins, Kilcolgan.

National Kart Champion: Gary Donnelly, Cookstown.

National Cadet Class Champion: Lucca Allen, Shanagarry.

National KZ2 Class Champion: Bill Sherlock, Cloonloo, Co. Sligo.

National Mini Max Champion: Daniel Harper, Hillsborough.

National Super 4 Class Champion: Gabriel Lodge, Dunmore East.

Outstanding Achievement Awards

International Driver of the Year Award (Manley Memorial Trophy) Matt Griffin.

Ivan Webb Memorial Trophy: Pat O’Dowd, Wexford.

RIAC Archive Award for Recording Irish Motoring or Motorsport History: Kevin O’Driscoll, Cork.

National Racing Champion (Dunlop Hawthorn Trophy) Pat McBennett, Straffan.

Dunlop National Rally Champions: Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle.

Tarmac Rally Organisers Association Champions:Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle.

National Forestry Rally Champions: Owen Murphy/Liam Moynihan.

National Navigation Trial Champions: Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston.

Young Rally Driver of the Year for the Billy Coleman Award: Dean Raftery, Craughwell.

Young Racing Driver of the Year for the Dunlop Sexton Trophy: Jonny McMullan.