Motors: Academy drivers buckle up for European rallies

Omagh brothers Patrick and Stephen O’Brien (Skoda Fabia R5) compete in this weekend’s Rally di Roma Capitale in Italy, a counting round of the European Rally Championship. Pic: Martin Walsh.

These are busy times but also fortunate times for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. Last week, three crews took part in Rally Croatia, a round of the World Rally Championship and this weekend two other crews are in action in the European Rally Championship in Italy.

Set up four years ago, the purpose of the academy is to provide promising young drivers with a pathway from junior rallying to competing at World Rally Championship level. The members are chosen from the Billy Coleman Award nominees. There are currently ten drivers. In recent years, the scheme was expanded to incorporate rally co-drivers (navigators) of which there are five.