Quinn and Young to receive top rally awards

AFTER a terrific rally season in 2011 which saw over 155 competitors register for the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship this Saturday will see the crews rewarded for the huge effort they put into the sport as the 2011 championship awards take place in Adare, Co Limerick.

The championship, which began back in 1993, has grown to be the number 1 regional rally championship in Ireland thanks to the sponsorship and support over the past 18 years of former competitor and managing director of the Top Part Group, Donie Dillane.

Having finished runnerup on a few occasions along with winning the top 2-wheel drive award in the past, 2011 proved a very successful year for Lyreacrompane’s Mike Quinn and his Clare codriver Grainne Mcenery as they secured the overall championship title on the final round in Banna in November. Quinn, who has been a loyal supporter of the Top Part championship throughout the years, put in a terrific performance in 2011 in his self prepared Ford Escort MK11 to win the title by three points from 2010 champion Shane Maguire.

The overall award in the Junior category will be presented to Tralee’s Darren Young and co-driver Kenneth Quirke who hails from Camp. The 24-year old Tralee man, who has only been rallying for four years, blitzed his opposition last year to win the title by 20 points and the duo will be aiming to win back to back titles in 2012.

Abbeyfeale’s Denis Collins and his Tralee codriver Tommy Commane will be presented with the overall historic champion’s trophy after a very successful season. Reining historic championship wining codriver Commane who is only in his second year codriving guided Collins to overall honours with wins in Limerick, Clare, Galway and Kerry on their way to securing the championship in their immaculate Ford Escort MK1.

Kerry drivers and co-drivers who will be presented with class awards include Kevin Barrett/ Sean Mullally 1st in class 8, Listowel’s Joey Hilliard 1st in class 10, Connor Walsh 2nd in class 10, Paddy Costello 1st in class 11, Mike Costello 2nd in class 11, Abbeydourney’s Tony Mccarty 1st in class 13 and Paudie Casey 3rd in class 13.

Meanwhile, the opening round of the 2012 Top Part West Coast Rally Championship will take place in Abbeyleix on Sunday, February 26 followed by the Carlton Hotel Circuit of Kerry (April 1), Circuit of Munster ( June 3), Galway Summer Rally (August 26), Clare Stages Rally (September 16) and the Kerry Mini Stages (November 11).

Elsewhere, this Sunday the Irish Rally Competitors Association host their annual marshals day at Mondello Park with the Share A Dream Foundation this year’s chosen charity. The day is organised to say ‘thank you’ to the marshals who help with the safety and running of events around Ireland, with each marshal getting to sit alongside some of Ireland’s top drivers for a spin around the track.

Kevin Barrett, one of the main organisers of the event, said: “Without marshals competitors could not compete and enjoy the sport. These people are they unsung hero’s of the sport who give their time voluntary and Sunday will be a day where they will get the chance to enjoy the sport from inside a rally car.”