Rosemary Smith, Irish motorsport legend, has died

Rosemary Smith, born on 7 August 1937, passed away peacefully today at the Beacon Hospital in Dublin, writes Leo Nulty.. 

Rosemary etched her name in the annals of motorsport history as a pioneering rally driver from Dublin, Ireland. With a career spanning decades, Smith's journey is a testament to her skill, determination, and groundbreaking achievements on the racing circuits and rally stages.

Smith's initiation into rallying began as a co-driver, but her love for the driver's seat led to a pivotal role change, catching the attention of the Rootes Group's Competition Department, which offered her a coveted works drive.  Having clinched the ladies' prize at the Circuit of Ireland Rally in 1964, the year 1965 marked a significant milestone in her career when she, alongside co-driver Valerie Domleo, secured victory in the four-day Dutch Tulip Rally, manoeuvring a factory-entered Hillman Imp through 1,800 miles of challenging terrain.

Despite facing controversy and disqualification in the 1966 Monte Carlo Rally, Smith's resolve remained unbroken, leading to a series of triumphs, including an outright win in the 1969 Cork 20 Rally and multiple victories on renowned stages like the Scottish Rally, the Alpine Rally, the Canadian Shell 4000, the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon and the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally.

Beyond the racetrack, Rosemary Smith's life story is a narrative of resilience and passion. Born in 1937, she defied societal norms, learning to drive at 11 under her father's guidance and obtaining a driving license at 16 through resourceful means. Her foray into fashion design, including setting up a boutique with her mother, added another layer to her diverse persona.

Smith went on to drive for many of the leading motor manufacturers of the time, including Ford, BL, Porsche, Opel, Lancia and Chrysler Talbot amongst others, showcasing her driving prowess but also as a trailblazer for Irish motorsport.

In 1978, Smith set a new land speed record in Cork, adding another achievement to her illustrious career. 

In the 1990s, Smith expanded her influence by founding a driving school, imparting her wealth of knowledge to aspiring drivers. One of her crowning moments came on 10 May 2017, when, at the age of 79, she became the oldest person to drive an 800bhp F1 racing car during a test drive with the Renault F1 Team at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France, a remarkable feat that went unnoticed by the Guinness Book of Records.

In 2018, she penned her memoirs  in the hugely popular "Driven by Rosemary Smith" book.  In 2022 she was inducted into FIVA (Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens) Hall of Fame.

As Rosemary Smith's legacy continues to inspire generations, her remarkable journey stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of an Irish motorsport legend.

Rest in Peace. 

Motorsport Ireland Weekend Roundup

The cars driven by two Irish drivers contesting the world’s most famous motor race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, each completed more than 4500 kilometres between the start on Saturday afternoon and yesterday’s finish, writes Richard Burke.

Corkman Matt Griffin finished eighth in class at the wheel of the Clearwater Racing Ferrari 488 GTE, while current Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Charlie Eastwood from Belfast shared the TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage to twelfth place.

At home, Anthony Culleton from Laois was the outright winner of the Midland Autocross at Scramogue, Co Roscommon, the third round of the Five Star Catering National Championship, with Matt Shinnors and Christopher Snow Jnr winning the main saloon classes.

Motorsport Ireland Weekend Round-up

Photo: Michael Chester.

Twenty year old Alex Denning continued his highly successful first season in car racing by taking victory in two of the three Dennings Cars Fiesta ST races at Mondello Park, but had to settle for eighth place in the final race after a last lap spin while battling for fourth position, writes Richard Burke.

The Rathfarnham driver dominated the first two races, finishing two seconds clear of his nearest challenger each time, with double class champion Dave Maguire and Erik Holstein taking the two runner-up positions. Veteran Michael Cullen eventually won an action packed race three when he took the lead from relative newcomer Ross Barnes at three quarter distance, with Barnes finally taking third place after he couldn’t hold off Holstein, who was recovering from a spin.

Limerick’s Paul O’Connell scored another double in the Finnstown Castle Boss Formula Libre races, with Sam Mansfield and Joe Courtney taking second and third each time.

Defending Hillclimb and Sprint champion Rob Dwane continued his unbeaten run this year by winning both days of the Clare weekend at Feakle, with Gary Egan and Billy White completing the leaderboard on each of the two days.  

Ireland’s Weekend Roundup Motorsport

Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes continued their domination of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship yesterday by scoring their third win from four events, adding the Lyons of Limerick Circuit of Munster to their previous successes in the Birr and Midland rallies, writes Richard Burke.

After nine stages, they had 22 seconds in hand over former multiple title holders Declan and Brian Boyle from Donegal, with another championship winning pair, Roy White and James O’Brien, a further 24 seconds down in third position.

Donagh Kelly and Conor Foley, who broke Moffett’s string of wins in Monaghan, were the early leaders yesterday but slipped to third place before retiring with a broken throttle spring on  their Focus on the seventh stage. Kieran Reen from Killarney and Jordan Hone from Claudy won the two Junior classes. 

Photo: Martin Walsh

‘Golden Mondello’ celebrates 50 years of Irish Motorsport

Mondello Park

‘Golden Mondello - From Grass to Glory’ will be broadcast on RTE at 6.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday, 3 June, writes Trish Whelan. 

The one hour documentary, commissioned by Mondello’s owner Martin Birrane before he died last year, celebrated 50 years of Irish Motorsport at the famous Irish motor racing track at Mondello Park outside Naas in Co Kildare which is Ireland’s only internationally accepted racing circuit for cars and motor-cycles.

It was started by enterprising enthusiasts who recognised, because of competitor safety, that the days of traditional road racing were near an end. That era started near Athy, Co Kidare in 1903 with the staging of the highly successful and much acclaimed Gordon Bennett International. 

As well as being the story of Mondello Park, it is a dedication to the man who invested much money making the circuit stand proudly as an internationally recognised facility for cars, motor cycles, karting, drifting and rallycross. 

What started as an 0.8 mile short circuit, with few facilities and a limited number of competitors, progressed over the past 50 years into a properly run facility with an amazing number of home-grown competitors - a fitting place for budding racers. 

Mondello had its troubles in the early years when a lack of investment hampered progress. It had to be financially rescued more than once. And, it was not until it was bought by Ballina-born UK based property owner and successful amateur racing driver, Martin Birrane (pictured), that it developed into a racing facility with the best of pits and paddocks, alongside a remarkable museum. His purpose in buying into it, and spending many millions of his own money during development, was to encourage local talent, to provide safe yet challenging facilities in addition to local employment and even local tourism. He also wanted to develop the international aspect. 

Ayrton Senna at Mondello

Mondello Park has been graced by many international stars down the years, like world champions Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, James Hunt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Joey Dunlop, Mike Hailwood and many more. Senna was even sensationally challenged by a local driver when he raced there in 1982.

First race at Mondello Park

The real success of the facility has been the development of local Irish talent such as John Watson, Derek Daly, Kenny Acheson, David Kennedy, Eddie Jordan, Tommy Byrne, Michael Roe and others. 

Nowadays, Mondello Park has a racing school, corporate suites, support from the motor industry and a busy competition schedule. 

The documentary visits the internationally renowned Irish race track and reveals the many captivating stories behind it, since the 110 acres of farmland was cut open in 1968 to the present day, 50 eventful years later where the speeds have increased and the sport has evolved technically. 

Top Irish drivers

Former Irish F1 driver Derek Daly said: “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Mondello Park changed my life” while Eddie Jordan said: “What Mondello has delivered for motorsport in Irish history has been simply sensational.”

Eddie Jordan

The documentary celebrating 50 years of Irish Motorsport is produced by Irish production company Ely Productions. The Executive Producer is renowned Irish motorsport journalist and former RTE TV producer Michael O’Carroll, is produced by his daughter Grainne O’Carroll and directed by Stephen Vickers.

The Mondello Park story is told with historic action footage, well placed interviews with relevant personalities with many pertinent and colourful Mondello moments and memories. 

Not to be missed. 

New Megane R.S. Trophy-R sets lap record

Renault has unveiled the New Megane R.S. Trophy-R, a new version in a lineage that began 15 years ago that has set - like its iconic predecessors, a new lap record time of 07”40”100 on the Nordschleife (a world renowned proving ground) in the front-wheel-drive production car category, writes Trish Whelan. Renault say this new Trophy-R embodies Renault Sport’s passion for challenge and performance.

The Megane R.S. Trophy-R is equipped with the same 300hp engine as Megane R.S. Trophy and owes its increased speed to weight reduction of up to 130kg, improved aerodynamics and the more radical development of its chassis for improved handling.

This car will have its public debut on this coming Friday, 24 May as part of the build up to the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco with drivers from the Renault F1 Team, Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg, behind the wheel.

This car doesn’t only owe its performance to its pure power but was honed for the track by a small, dedicated team focusing on maximum weight reduction, reworked aerodynamics and a more radical development of its drive axles.  

Revised Billy Coleman Award Criteria announced

Motorsport Ireland has announced the updated Billy Coleman Award criteria for 2019, writes Richard Burke. The updates make no changes to the eligibility criteria of those considered for the prestigious prize but rather, focus on further developing those who are lucky to become nominated as well as slight tweaks to the judging windows.

The previous bi-monthly nomination periods have been replaced by tri-monthly nomination windows to better reflect the spread of events in the calendar. The months of January, February, March and April will count for 1 nomination while May/June/July and August/September/October will count for 1 nomination each. The nominees from these periods will be joined by the junior rally champions from the Irish National and Irish Forestry Rally Championships for both class 16 and 16A and the winner of the new dual surface J1600 Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series. One wildcard candidate may also be chosen by a panel appointed by Motorsport Ireland. This means there may be a maximum of 9 nominees in 2019, dropping to 7 in 2020 as class 16A will cease to exist at the end of this year.

All nominated candidates, who take up the offer to be interviewed for the Award, are eligible for inclusion in the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy for 1 year. Additional support from the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy as part of a training and development plan to further their careers will also be available in year 1 for the winner and they may apply for funding for a second year of support and delivering on the year 1 plan. The runners up (2) will receive support to compete in stage rallies at home and abroad up to an amount of €15,000 each, to be paid in stage payments as agreed. The funding for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy is made possible by the Team Ireland Foundation.

As mentioned earlier, the eligibility criteria for the award has remained the same for 2019. Those wishing to qualify must:

- Be under 26 years of age on 1st January in the year of the award.

- Hold a valid current competition licence issued by Motorsport Ireland.

- Be resident on the island of Ireland.

- Be competing at home or abroad in any type of car eligible for Motorsport Ireland rallies except WRC cars.

The full rule change is available to view in the “2019 YEARBOOK AMENDMENTS SINCE PUBLICATION” section onmotorsportireland.com under the “RULES & REGULATIONS” tab and the first 2019 nominee from the January-April window will be announced shortly. The current Billy Coleman Award co-ordinator is Sean McHugh.

Motorsport Ireland weekend round-up

Erik Holstein won both of the Dennings Cars Fiesta ST races at Bishopscourt, near Downpatrick, on Saturday, but teenager Alex Denning again showed his class by finishing second each time, also setting the fastest lap in each race on his first visit to the circuit, writes Richard Burke.

Limerick’s Paul O’Connell also scored a double in the Finnstown Castle Boss Formula Libre races, averaging more than 100 mph on his way to a runaway victory over Fergus Faherty in race two.

Ryan Loughran took a narrow win in the Carlow Mini Stages Rally, bringing his Escort home just seven tenths of a second ahead of early leader Damien Toner after six stages, with the lead changing hands on the second last stage. 

Erik is pictured above taking part in the Fiesta ST race at Bishopscourt.

Photo courtesy of Michael Chester Photography. 

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Breen and Nagle continue unbeaten run

The Waterford-Killarney pairing of Craig Breen and Paul Nagle continued their unbeaten run in this year’s Pirelli/EARS Motorsport Irish Tarmac Rally Championship by adding the Cartell.ie Killarney International Rally of the Lakes to their previous wins in Galway, Cork and Antrim, writes Richard Burke.

After two tough days on the classic stages of Kerry and Cork, their Fiesta led from start to finish, ending the weekend 15 seconds clear of the similar car of main rivals Alastair Fisher and Gordon Noble, who took runner up position for the third time in four rallies.

Third place, and a first podium result, went to another Fiesta in the hands of former Young Rally Driver of the Year Callum Devine and co-driver Brian Hoy, with Desi Henry and Rob Barrable completing the top five in a pair of Skodas.

The was a high retirement rate among the top seeds, with the casualties including the Moffett brothers, Sam and Josh, Jonny Greer, Manus Kelly and Meirion Evans. The current Young Driver title holder, James Wilson, had a good drive to tenth place on his debut event in a powerful R5 Hyundai, a big step upwards from his usual Peugeot 208.

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy launched

John Coyne competing in 2018 (image: Kevin O’Driscoll) 

Motorsport Ireland has announced the launch of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, writes Richard Burke. The academy is being established to provide promising young drivers with a pathway from the junior rallying ranks through to competing at World Rally Championship (WRC) level.

Those eligible to enter the high-performance academy will initially be chosen from the Billy Coleman Award nominees, and will be joined by Winners of the J1000, J1600 and R2 Junior classes of rallying. Drivers and navigators who are selected will undergo a rigorous training programme to develop their skills and discipline and move them up through the various competitive classes in Irish rallying through to the highest levels of the sport internationally.

Leo Hassett, the CEO of Motorsport Ireland, said: “This new initiative is focused on creating a structured development programme for young Irish rally drivers and co-drivers and is designed to prepare them to compete on the world stage. It also adds value to the current Billy Coleman award system, which recognises our junior drivers competing in all classes of rally vehicles. All academy drivers and co-drivers will participate in a series of coaching events throughout the year which will include driving and co-driving theory, and practice on both sealed and loose surfaces, as well as fitness and media training.”

John Coyne

Initial funding for this initiative has come through the Team Ireland Foundation as a result of support from John Coyne.

John, now resident in California, is a former Irish National (1977) and Irish Tarmac (1982) rally champion. He also has championship wins to his name in Malaysia (Group N-1999) and California (Open-2016). A mechanical engineering graduate of UCD, John retired in 2013 from the CEO position at Western Digital, one of the world’s top digital storage companies, having worked for the company for some 30 years. Since his retirement, John has returned to rally in Ireland and abroad using both his 1982 Irish Tarmac Championship winning Talbot Sunbeam Lotus and a Porsche 997 R-GT, which has proved to be a real crowd favourite.

Speaking about the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, John said: “The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy is a great opportunity for me to give back to a sport that has provided me with so many great experiences over the years. I’m delighted to be involved with supporting this initiative to identify and nurture our young motorsport talent and help them progress and represent Ireland competitively on the world stage. I look forward to watching some of them competing in the WRC in the years ahead! I’d particularly like to thank Sean McHugh, Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Co-Ordinator for his leadership, enthusiasm and hard work in proposing and developing the details of the new Rally Academy program.”

The Team Ireland Motorsport initiative is now in its third year and this new rally-focused program will enhance its ability to recognise and support a larger group of talented young Irish drivers and co-drivers in the coming years.

John Naylor, President of Motorsport Ireland, said: “This is an exciting time for up and coming rally talent in Ireland. With this additional funding, we can do so much more for our young drivers. Team Ireland has been funded up to now by John Campion of CJJ Holdings in the USA and it is great to welcome John Coyne on board as a major contributor. It is encouraging to see people such as John Campion and John Coyne giving back so much to our sport and hopefully it will encourage others to come on board as well.”

Sean McHugh, Co-Ordinator of the Billy Coleman Award, said: “This donation will allow us to build on the success of the award over the last 20 years and facilitate an expansion of the project to get talented drivers into a training programme at a much younger age. We now can expand the level of support to the overall winner and runners up.”

Young Rally Driver of the Year Award decided today

Darragh McNern

Today, 13 November, eight of Ireland’s most promising young rally drivers will make their cases to be selected as the Young Rally Driver of the Year and be declared the winner of the prestigious Billy Coleman Award, writes Paul Phelan.

Five of these hopefuls were nominated during the year for their performances in rallies between January and October, with three additional names added in the form of the highest placed eligible drivers from both the Junior Championship in the Triton Showers National series and the Junior category in the Valvoline National Forestry Championship, as well as a wildcard selection.

Colin O'Donoghue. All Photos: Ruaidhri Nash

Joining the five already chosen are Darragh McNern (Bruckless, Co Donegal), who finished 2nd in the Triton Showers National Junior class in his Toyota Corolla, and Peugeot 208 driver Marty Gallagher (Letterkenny), who is the highest placed eligible Junior in the Valvoline Championship.

Marty Gallagher

The first place on the interview list, the wildcard selection, goes to Colin O’Donoghue (Killarney), for his Junior wins on the Rally of the Lakes and the Skibbereen Fastnet, as well as runner up position in the West Cork Rally. Colin drove both a Ford Escort and a Honda Civic during the year.

The five bi-monthly selections were: James Wilson (Armagh), Derek Mackarel (Stone Bridge, Co Monaghan), Jason Black (Armagh), Jordan Hone (Claudy, Co Derry) and Michael Hamilton (Miltown Malbay, Co Clare). 

The winner of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award receives €50,000 worth of support to contest rallies nationally and internationally in 2019 along with the support of Billy Coleman co-ordinator, Sean McHugh, while the two runners-up will receive free entries into a number of MI permitted events in 2019, along with co-ordinator support.

Michael gets Young Rally Driver of the Year nomination

Michael Hamilton in action. Photo: Dermot Kelleher.

Michael Hamilton has been nominated for this year’s Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award for his performances in September and October, writes Richard Burke.

The 23 year-old from Milltown Malbay, Co Clare, drove his Honda Civic to class victories in the Sligo and Clare Stages Rallies, finishing in a tremendous 12th place overall in Sligo and 15th in Clare, despite lateness penalties in his home rally which dropped him from a possible 13th position, incurred while having to change a driveshaft in the service area. Earlier in the day, Michael and his co-driver Dylan Donoghue held tenth overall after the fourth of nine stages, matching the times set by much more powerful cars.

He only contested four rallies during the year, but problems forced him to retire from both the Circuit of Kerry and the recent Donegal Harvest events.

Michael intends modifying his car to contest the Junior section of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship next year, in line with recently announced technical regulations for the Junior class.

He began rallying in September 2016 in the Clare Stages Rally and immediately showed his pace, taking a comfortable class win, almost twelve minutes ahead of his closest rival.

Michael works as car sales manager with Dermot Cleary Motors of Ennis, who are also one of his sponsors, along with Charlie McEnery Motor Services, Efone, Egan Haulage & Agri, and Powertune Motorsport.

He joins with the four other bi-monthly winners selected from January-February, through to July-August, along with the highest placed eligible drivers from both the Junior Championship in the Triton Showers National series and the Junior category in the Valvoline National Forestry Championship, and a wildcard selection, as the award finalists. 

The winner of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award receives €50,000 worth of support to contest rallies nationally and internationally in 2019 along with the support of Billy Coleman co-ordinator, Sean McHugh, while the two runners-up will receive free entries into a number of MI permitted events in 2019, along with co-ordinator support. 

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Young Racing Driver of the Month – Sept 2018

Rob Parks Junior from Ballina, Co Tipperary, has been selected as the Young Racing Driver of the Month for September, writes Richard Burke. The 16 year-old took a win and a second place in the Ginetta Junior races at the Leinster Trophy meeting at Mondello Park to score his fourth victory of the year.

Combined with his other podium positions during the season, this leaves him in runner up spot in the Junior championship.

Rob Parks Junior

Rob started motorsport in 2016, at the age of 14, when he drove in Midget Car Racing, winning the Junior Midget Car title and also contesting some Ginetta Junior events. At the final round of the Midget Car season, he led the “Devil take the Hindmost” race from start to finish.

Last year, he concentrated on the Ginetta class and finished fourth in the series, with two third places along the way. During 2018, he stayed with the Ginettas apart from a one-off outing at Brands Hatch last weekend in one of Alan Kessie’s Pirelli Supercars, when he was delighted to finish second and third in the Invitation class in a much more powerful car than he has ever driven before.

Rob’s sponsors are Portumna Marine, Vertical Access, W R Shaw and Portumna Agri. He plans to drive in both Formula Sheane and Pirelli Supercars next year. Rob is a 5th Year student at St Anne’s Community College in Killaloe.

Having been selected as the final Driver of the Month for the 2018 season, Rob is now a contender for the prestigious Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Award, the historic Sexton Trophy. This award is presented annually and is supported by Sport Ireland and Motorsport Ireland.

Rob is pictured above in action in his Ginetta. 

Photos: Topgear.ie, ASK Racing

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Womens' racing team for endurance race at Mondello

The first all-female racing team will compete in the 6-hour endurance race in Mondello Park on Sunday, 4 November, writes Trish Whelan. The race will start at 12pm and finish in the dark at 6pm.

Emma Dempsey, who made a comeback to Motorsport recently as a competitor, has entered the first ever all-female team in the 6 hour Ford Fiesta Zetec Endurance race which takes place at Mondello Park (Naas Co.Kildare) on Sunday, 4 November.  Women in Motorsport Racing (WIM) including Emma Dempsey, Aimee Woods, Ruth Nugent and Nicola Watkins will race against some of Ireland’s top racing drivers including ex Formula 1 Legend Tommy Byrne.

Emma Dempsey (Ashbourne, Co Meath) was born into the Motorsport paddock. Her father Cliff Dempsey was a well-known racing driver before setting up his own successful race team Cliff Dempsey Racing in 1988.  For many years Emma looked on as a spectator until she was given the opportunity to race for the Formula Female race team in a 160bhp Rover 25Gti at Mondello Park’s 50^th Anniversary celebrations. You would know Emma has racing in her genes – she competed in the 50minute endurance race and managed to bring the car home in first place in her first race.  At the Leinster Trophy Meeting in September Emma raced in the Mick’s Garage Future Classics class where she had a strong top six finish in both rounds, battling against some very experienced racing drivers.   Emma is also an experienced race mechanic and has been working hard to prepare the Zetec Fiesta for the 6-hour race.

Ruth Nugent (Gormanstown, Co Meath) finished her first season competing in Motorsport within the top ten of the Patch Tyre Equipment Ford Zetec Championship.  Before Ruth was a racing driver she was a massive Motorsport enthusiast and has been a passionate and dedicated marshal for the past 12 years.  Ruth has impressed many people around the Mondello paddock this year with her driving ability and has huge support from everybody in the sport.  Ruth brings a lot of experience to the team after driving in the Zetec class in both the National and International tracks at Mondello Park and in Bishopscourt this year.  Ruth is clearly buzzing ahead of the Fiesta 6hr and said “I’m very excited and proud to be competing in the first all-female team at the Fiesta 6hr endurance race. I feel that we will be competitive and definitely one to watch! This is a fantastic opportunity and I’m looking forward to seeing how we do working together.”

Aimee Woods (Dundalk, Co Louth) is no stranger to Irish Motorsport, following in the footsteps of her father Sean Woods, a successful saloon driver who continues to run his own racing team.  Aimee has competed in many classes throughout the years. She began her racing career nine years ago in the Fiat Uno Championship, moved on to compete in rally sprints and then graduated to single seaters - placing 3rd in the Irish Formula Vee Finol Star of Tomorrow Championship.  Aimee currently instructs at Mondello Park and has buckets of experience racing through the years so is well used to male dominated grids.  She will certainly put up a good battle with some of the quick guys up front. Aimee is determined to see the team do well:  I’m glad to be competing within a team that I feel will be competitive. It’s a great opportunity to see how well women can work together and learn from each other. It’s an exciting project to be a part of.

Completing the four-driver team at WiM Racing is Nicola

Watkins (Drogheda, Co Meath), a successful business woman and public relations consultant who has raced with the Ford Fiesta Zetec class since it launched in 2013. Nicola has been around Irish motorsport all her life - her Dad Alex Watkins raced Formula Fords in the 1960s and was a safety and eligibility scrutineer for almost 30 years while her brother Alan Watkins has won 8 Stryker championships as well as this year’s Irish Supercar Championship.  Nicola started in motorsport driving in Sporting Car Trials (Mud plugging) when she was just 14 years of age and reached Grade A by the time she was 17.  Nicola commenced track racing in Irish Strykers before joining the highly competitive Ford Fiesta Zetec class where she has raced in Mondello, Bishopscourt and Brands Hatch.  Nicola commented “I’m thrilled to be racing with the Women in Motorsport team, I’ve wanted to pull together an all-female team together for some time however there just hadn’t been enough female interest until now.”

Emma Dempsey said, “WIM Racing is delighted to have Nicola join our 6-hour Endurance race team as her experience and consistency will be a great asset to the team along with the knowledge she has gained from previously managing a team in the first 6 hour endurance race.”

David Hall (Kildare) who is a lifelong friend to many members of the team, will be managing WiM Racing. David is a successful racing driver who has won a number of championships from single seaters to saloon cars. The 6hr will see him reunite with Emma as the pair worked together in a role reversal when David won the 2007 Formula Sheane title. Dave has been a strong support to female racing drivers in Ireland and recently did blogs with Motorsport.ie featuring Ruth and Aimee. Emma Dempsey said “We believe as a team that Dave will have all the Motorsport knowledge to help WIM Racing make it to the finish line in the fastest time possible.”

WIM will be representing all female racing drivers of Ireland when they come together to compete in the 6-hour Endurance race on 4 November. 

Motorsport Ireland Weekend Round-Up

Dubliner Derek Tohill yesterday clinched the Parts for Cars Irish Rallycross Championship for the third year in a row by taking a clean sweep of victories at Mondello Park in his Ford Fiesta, writes Richard Burke. 

Tohill qualified for the day’s main race by winning the Supercar Final, eleven seconds clear of former title holder Tommy Graham, and then went on to win the Super Final as well for the fifth time in six events to put the championship out of reach of his rival.

Graham also took second place in the main race, giving him a successful return to the sport after a couple of years’ layoff, with another ex-champion, Michael Coyne, finishing third.

Ireland’s Autotest team again finished second in the Ken Wharton Memorial International Autotest in Worcestershire, 33 seconds behind Northern Ireland, who won for the seventh year in a row, and 50 seconds ahead of third placed England.

Current Irish Autotest champion Ian White from Kilkenny was best individual driver, 4.3 seconds in front of England’s Richard Pinkney, with NI team leader Steven Ferguson in third place. 

Charlie is Young Racing Driver of the month for August

Eastwood in the Aston Martin Vantage GTE of TF Sport.

Charlie Eastwood from Belfast has been selected as the Young Racing Driver of the Month for August, writes Richard Burke. The 23 year-old shared TF Sport team’s Aston Martin Vantage to runner up position in the GTE Am class at the Silverstone round of the World Endurance Championship, having led earlier in the six hour race.

Charlie started his racing career in karts at the age of eight, achieving great success, and won the 2012 Rotax World Final. He added the 2013 Rotax European title to his list of successes before switching to car racing in 2014, driving in the UK Formula 4 series, the New Zealand Toyota championship and the Formula Renault Eurocup during the next two seasons.

He began an association with Porsche GB in late 2015, becoming the 2016/17 Porsche Carrera Cup GB scholar, which launched him into the Carrera Cup championship. Charlie won the Rookie title in 2016 as well as taking 3rd in the Pro class, and went on to win the overall Pro Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship last year.

This has been a busy year for Charlie, as he has contested the Blancpain Endurance series at the wheel of TF Sport’s GT3 version of the Vantage, the VLN championship on the Nordschleife at the world famous Nurburgring in a Porsche GT4 for the Four Motors team, in addition to the WEC which spans a lengthy season, running from the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps last April and ending with the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2019.

Between races, Charlie works at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone. Among his other sponsors are Oman Racing and SuCo.

Having been selected as the fifth Driver of the Month for the 2018 season, Charlie is now a contender for the prestigious Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Award, the historic Sexton Trophy. This award is presented annually and is supported by Sport Ireland and Motorsport Ireland.

Hone nominated for Young Rally Driver of the Year

Jordan Hone with his father and co-driver Paul.

Jordan Hone has been nominated for this year’s Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award for his performances in July and August, writes Richard Burke.

The 22 year old from Claudy, Co Derry, drove his Opel Adam to victory in the Junior class of the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, taking 13th place overall. He also scored a class win in the Ulster International Rally three weeks later.

Earlier in the year, Jordan finished as runner up in the Junior section of the Donegal International Rally, less than two seconds behind the eventual winner after swapping places all day. He also took a Junior win in the Carlow Mini Stages Rally.

Jordan began rallying in 2013 at the age of 17, scoring a class win in his first ever event, and going on to take his class in the Northern Ireland Rally Championship. He was NI Junior Rally champion the following year, and won the Group N Production class in the Valvoline National Forestry series in 2017. He hopes to contest the British Rally Championship next year, as well as possibly some European events.

Jordan is in the final year of a Masters’ degree in Mechanical Engineering at Queen’s University, Belfast. His sponsors are Premier Car Parts (Derry), Rallyhire (Belfast) and TOC Utilities (Dungiven). He paid tribute to all the support he has had from his family and friends, particularly from his father and co-driver Paul Hone, Raymond and Matthew Mason of Rallyhire for their car preparation, and Aileen Kelly, who co-drove him in the Donegal International.

Five bi-monthly winners are selected from January-February, through to September-October, along with the highest placed eligible drivers from both the Junior Championship in the Triton Showers National series and the Junior category in the Valvoline National Forestry Championship, and a wildcard selection, as the award finalists.

The winner of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award receives €50,000 worth of support to contest rallies nationally & internationally in 2019 along with the support of Billy Coleman co-ordinator, Sean McHugh, while the two runners-up will receive free entries into a number of MI permitted events in 2019, along with co-ordinator support.

Jordan Hone in action. Graham Service Photography.

Motorsport Ireland Weekend Round-up

Robert Dwane, courtesy of Senan O'Connor, Vantage Point Video 

Even though he suffered his first defeat of the year, Clare driver Rob Dwane virtually clinched the Naylor Engineering National Hillclimb and Sprint Championship for the first time thanks to scoring his eighth win from nine rounds in Donegal yesterday, writes Richard Burke.

The 21 year-old had to give best to the Radical sports car of Gerard O’Connell in Saturday’s event on the famous Knockalla coast road on the Fanad peninsula, with less than one fifth of a second separating the two rivals. However, Dwane was back to winning form yesterday, finishing well clear of runner up Tim Nunn.

Defending Triton Showers National Rally champion Sam Moffett was 46 seconds ahead of Joe McGonigle in yesterday’s Sligo Stages Rally, taking the lead when this year’s two main title contenders crashed off the road on consecutive stages towards the end of the rally.

Moffett’s younger brother Josh, the rally leader at the time, was first to go, on the sixth of nine stages, while double champion Declan Boyle retired on the following stage, leaving runner up McGonigle to take over the points lead.

In Ballyvourney, Co Cork, defending Hewison Autotest champion Ian White and challenger Guy Foster took a win apiece in the double header opening weekend of the new season, with Chris Grimes and Darren Quille taking turns at finishing third.

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Motorsport Ireland Weekend Roundup

British visitor Michael Lyons scored a double victory at Sunday’s 50th Anniversary race meeting at Mondello Park, with his five litre V8 engined Lola beating Ireland’s Tommy Byrne in both rounds of the Derek Bell Trophy Championship, after the Dundalk driver briefly led for the opening lap of race on, writes Richard Burke.

Byrne, driving a Formula 1 Hesketh once raced by 1976 World Champion James Hunt, has been out of racing for decades, but has recently made a comeback and although hampered by a shortage of fresh tyres, managed to finish within six seconds of Lyons in the opening race, and ten seconds in the later outing.

Meath driver Dan Daly was third in both races, despite his Ralt having an engine less than half the size of that fitted to Lyons’ car, with the V8 McLaren of Alain Girardet fourth each time.

The biggest Mondello crowd for a long time cheered Ireland’s Ladies Hockey team member Nicci Daly on her way to seventh place in the Future Classics race, only her second motor race ever.

Second place for Monaghan’s Josh Moffett in the John Mulholland Motors Ulster Rally based in Antrim gives him the lead in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship with just one round to come, at the end of September.

(Above image by Mark Ashby of Tommy Byrne competing at Mondello on Sunday 19th August).

Moffett wins Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally

Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty became the first crew to win two rounds of this year’s Triton Showers National Rally Championship yesterday when their Ford Fiesta WRC finished the Fanning Motor Factors Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally at Clonmel eight seconds clear of former double champion Declan Boyle and his co-driver James O’Reilly, writes Craig McKechnie.

The Monaghan-Limerick pairing were fastest on the morning’s opening stage and were never headed all day, despite a scare on the penultimate stage at Knockgraffon when the leading car lost power when it dropped on to three cylinders. This allowed Boyle to close the gap from 19 seconds to just three, setting the scene for a dramatic duel over the final section.

However, Moffett’s car was back to full health for that decisive last stage, and he was able to enlarge his lead again, closing the gap in the championship points table which Boyle heads in his bid for that elusive third title. Roy White and James O’Brien, the National championship winners two years ago, finished third to complete a clean sweep of the top positions for Fiestas.

Richard Meeke was the clear winner of TDC’s Clubman Autotest at Rathcoole, completing the 12 tests more than 20 seconds ahead of a duel between Rod McGovern and John Farrelly, who shared the same Westfield, finishing less than a second apart.