Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Northern drivers are tops
TWO of Irish motorsport’s most prestigious awards came north at a ceremony in the Mansion House yesterday.
Northern lights shone brightest at the Beta Tools Motorsport Ireland Awards when young drivers from Belfast and Co Armagh landed two of the sport’s most sought-after honours.
James Wilson, 24, won the Billy Coleman Award for Young Rally Driver of the Year, while 23-year-old Charlie Eastwood, a runner up in 2017, went one better this year by winning the Sexton Award for Young Racing Driver of the Year.
Both drivers will receive €50,000 in funding and support for the development of their careers during the 2019 season.
Wilson was nominated for his performances in January and February – and went on to further successes throughout the season.
He was the 2018 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Junior Rally Champion – and also secured a podium finish in the Junior British Rally Championship on the Ypres Rally in Belgium.
Eastwood is competing in the GTE Am class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, driving an Aston Martin.
He has impressively achieved three second places from three races in his debut year and is on track to add to his World Karting and Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship titles by the time the series finishes at the Le Mans 24hour in
June 2019.
The Manley Memorial Trophy went to Jordan Dempsey, who won the Sexton Trophy last year.