Meadows gets young driver award
Junior Formula 1000 driver Tommi Meadows was named as the UK Young Rally Driver of the Year by a panel of experts at the Professional Motorsport World Expo in Cologne, Germany last week.
The Clitheroe driver, 16, is part of a four-way fight for the Junior Formula 1000 championship at Cadwell Park this weekend. He is seventh in the table but still has a shot at the crown when dropped scores are taken in to account.
“This year has been a good season for me and winning the UK Young Rally Driver of the Year award has just topped it off,” said the driver, who is part of MSA Academy. “It’s great to see my efforts recognised internationally. It’s not easy to fight at the top with underpowered machinery compared to your rivals. You can underestimate the risks that you are having to take in order to stay on the pace that’s needed.”
Irishman Peter Bennett leads the championship by 38 points heading into the final round.
Along with Meadows, Tom Llewellin – son of British champion David – and Josh Mcerlean make up the contenders on the penultimate round.
The series concludes at Anglesey circuit on November 26/27.
“We hope that as many people as possible will attend for what should be a great night of nostalgia and fun with former committee members, club members, and friends of North Ulster Car Club.
“A special DVD of events organised by the club over the last four decades will be on show as well as press cuttings, old entry lists and club documents.
“Tickets are still available and anyone interest in going along is asked to send an email to nucc45@yahoo.com.”
Club has been successful “There have been challenges, of course there have. There were times when you felt like walking away. However, they have also been extremely successful from a club’s perspective and when an event goes off well it makes it all worthwhile. Everyone associated with North Ulster Car Club hopes this success will continue.”
More young blood is needed “If the club is to continue being a success then we do need more young blood coming forward, especially at committee level, to help run things.
“We have benefited from the support of other motor clubs in Northern Ireland, that’s been important and it must continue, but there’s only so much you can rely on other clubs.
“Every motor club is facing the same problems and North Ulster Car Club is no different. We’re working on it.” What’s next for NUCC?
“We have some exciting ideas in the pipeline at the minute.
“The Northern Ireland Sprint Championship has been good for the club – we host three rounds of that currently – and the Targa Rally we ran this year for the very first time was a real hit.
“Keeping things ticking over has been tough but success never comes easy, does it?”