Forde and Dempsey win top driving awards

The top two awards in Irish motorsport were announced this afternoon at the Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel.

In rallying, 25-year-old Ross Forde from Oramnore, Co Galway, won the Billy Coleman Award. In racing, Peter Dempsey (22) from Ashbourne, Co Meath was selected as the Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Year award winner.

Forde, who won his class in the National Junior Rally Championship, will contest the Fiesta ST series in Britain in 2009 - all fully funded as part of the prize.

Dempsey won the prestigious Walter Sexton Trophy and a cheque for €35,000. Dubliner, Patrick McKenna picked up the second place award and €10,000 and another Swords driver, Robert Barrable took the final place along with a cheque for €5,000.

Adam Carroll won the Manley Memorial Trophy, he was voted by the Motorsport media as the International Driver of the Year.

The other award winners honoured were Paul O'Connell (National Hillclimb/Sprint Champion); National Rallycross Champion, Dermot Carnegie; National Autocross Saloon Champion, Gerard Brennan; National Autocross Special Champion, Chris Culleton; National Autotest Champion, Eddie Peterson; Clubman of the Year Award, Des Ryan; National Kart Champion, Darren Sutton; National Junior Kart Champion, Jack Lyons; Winner of the Ivan Webb Memorial Trophy, Robert Moody; National Racing Champion, Jackie Cochrane; Dunlop National Rally Champions, Patrick Elliott and Paul Goodman; National Forest Champion, Ray Breen; National Navigation Trial Champions, Arthur Kierans/Ashley McAdoo; Tarmac Rally Champions, Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey