The Billy Coleman Award, young Rally driver of the Year, was awarded to 23 year old Gareth MacHale at Motorsport Ireland's prestigious HQ in Dublin's Dawson Street. One thing which struck home very forcibly at the award ceremony was, just how fortunate we are in such a small country as Ireland to have so many outstanding young drivers, who are also such a credit to the sport and to the country.

Kevin Kelleher and Ian Barrett were the runners up, while neither Brian O'Mahony nor Peter Wilson made the shortlist, but they, and several more, are brilliant prospects. Having said that, Gareth MacHale was the very deserved winner, and almost certainly will make more use of the prestige, carry it further forward, than any of the others.

Gareth, who, driving a Corolla WRC won the Irish forestry Championship at the first attempt, and then finished 3^rd on Rally Ireland, stated - "I'm really delighted to have won. Yes, my aim is use the prestige of the award to the best of my ability. I'm starting the year with the Monte Carlo, in the '03 Focus WRC. Paul Nagle will co-drive. The idea will be to get round in one piece, try not do anything stupid, get experience. I think I'm already pretty fit, but I'm working very hard to get even fitter, as I reckon that's a big part of rallying at world level, fitness and commitment. We have plans for the rest of the season, and we'll release details of that shortly. We will have a couple of potential backers on the Monte as well."

Austin MacHale commented from his Dublin base, "The backing is nearly complete for Gareth to do a fairly comprehensive programme. I'll definitely be entering Galway and will have an '05 Focus WRC. After that we'll see. There is a possibility I'll do the Monte as well, but that's not decided yet".

Wexford man Eamonn Boland is another who could well be competing on the Monte. Eamonn has already done the event several times, and says, "Yes it's a rally I enjoy, and it suits me, as we are quiet in the business at that time. Its still only 99%". Eamonn went on to say that the Galway International and the Pirelli Tarmac Championship were 'on the cards', and that a new '05 Focus WRC is on its way, but will not be ready in time for the Monte.

Closer to home, Dublin based Clonmel man Roy White intends to compete on the '06 Tarmac Championship with his FESP backed GpN Lancer. Roy also intends to enter the Pirelli Rally, opening round of the British Championship. Stephen McAuley will co-drive. Roy, who was GpN Tarmac Champion in 2003, commented. "We had a miserable year with the car, then upgraded to an Evo9 for Rally Ireland, and it was great. I'm really looking forward to the 2006 season. After the Pirelli Rally, the next three rounds of the British series are also part of the Pirelli Tarmac, so we will see how things are working out and make a decision after that."

Outgoing Production World Rally Champion Niall McShea got married last weekend in Letterkenny to Noreen McDaid, herself a successful lady in rallying, both as a driver and as a co-driver. Noreen's father James was one of the very top drivers in Donegal through the Eighties and early Nineties. Taking time out from the wedding party celebrations at the Mt Errigal Hotel, Niall observed that although his rally plans did not work out this year, it was looking good for 2006.

As we tipped a few weeks ago, Shell is backing the Donegal International Rally in '06, through the Donegal Oil Company Ltd. This will be 23^rd consecutive year that Shell has been involved with the Donegal Rally. The event is again a round of the Pirelli Tarmac Championship, takes place over the weekend of 16^th- 18^th June, and former chief timekeeper Danny Gormley takes over the Clerk of the Course mantle.

West Meath and District Motor Club has been newly formed, and leading co-driver John Kilmurray is just one of the new team backing a fund-raising night in the Bloomfield House Hotel in Mullingar on Sunday 1^st January.

Maiden City Motor Club's Turkey Run Rally, 6 stages at Aghadowey, has attracted over 90 entries and just some of the top names include Sean Devine in an Impreza WRC S9, Martin Doherty who has also got himself an S9 now, and Donegal man Hugh Martin Doherty who is in an S8.

Brian Patterson.