Motorsport: Darcy wins 'Billy Coleman Award'

The achievements of a number of leading Irish drivers were honoured at the Alfa Romeo Awards for Excellence in Irish Motorsport.

The two principal awards were won by Stuart Darcy (Donegal) and Michael

Devaney (Dublin).

25-year-old Darcy won the Billy Coleman “Young Rally Driver of the Year” award that includes a support package worth £25,000. From Killybegs, he was a class

winner in the 2000 Dunlop National Championship.

He had intended to compete in this year’s British Peugeot Super 106 Cup but due to the foot and mouth problems, his programme was restricted. Next season, he plans to tackle the Peugeot 206 series in the UK.

Teenager, Devaney, won the Dunlop Sexton Trophy and also receives a cheque for £20,000 and a weeks training at the Derek Daly Motorsport Academy in Las Vegas. In the Formula Ford Zetec Championship he

netted five podium finishes.

Two young karters were also honoured - Dubliner, Mark Smith, for his success in the Formula A Championship and Fermoy’s, Ronan Corcoran, who was presented with the Neil Shanahan Award for his victory in the Junior

Jica series.

Rosemary Smith was the recipient of the Hall of Fame Award and for the second year running, Damien Faulkner was declared the International Driver of the Year.

The awards reflected the outstanding achievements in karting, racing and rallying at home and abroad. The Irish Sports Council supported both the Young Rally Driver and Young Racing Driver awards, the latter was

also supported by Irish Dunlop while motor clubs countrywide backed the Coleman “Young Rally Driver” award.