McCarthy in hunt for Coleman Award
The West Cork driver from Ardgehane, Barryroe, has been chosen as the May/June winner and is one of five bimonthly winners selected that will go forward along with the winner of the Dunlop National Junior Championship, the highest placed eligible driver from the National Forestry Championship and a wildcard selection, for the title.
McCarthy’s selection follows his impressive fourth place finish on the Kilkenny-based Raven’s Rock Rally, where he also won the Class 11.
His performance, imbued with a clean racing style, drew great acclaim as he managed to fend off much more powerful cars than his 1600cc Honda.
It’s the third time that he’s been nominated for the Coleman award.
His initial selection was in 2008 when he contested the Junior Forest Championship, while he was also selected in 2010.
Earlier this year, the 26-year-old finished third overall in the West Cork Rally — the first time in the history of the Clonakilty-based rally that a driver of a 1600cc car was on the podium. The previous year, he was fifth overall, and again, the highest placed Class 11 driver.
Commenting on his selection, he said: “I’m delighted, I enjoyed the event in Kilkenny and it is always good to get recognition.”
A motor engineer in the family business in Ardgehane, who are his overall sponsors along with Hayes Cabins and Plascticbags.ie, McCarthy plans to “tackle the 2013 British Rally Championship in a Citroen, Ford or Renault. It’s a level platform, but off course it’s all dependent on sponsorship.” McCarthy is a former winner of the Imokilly Rally Sprint and plans to compete in the Bantry-based Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally in late October. The Billy Coleman Award is underpinned by the Irish Sports Council, Motorsport Ireland and its affiliated clubs. McCarthy now joins Limerick’s Kevin O’Connor (22) and Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna (24) as bimonthly winners.
All nominees will be interviewed later in the year and the group will then be whittled down to three, from which the overall winner will be chosen.
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