WILSON TARGETS BRC TITLE AFTER BILLY COLEMAN WIN
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Ulsterman James Wilson is the latest winner of the Billy Coleman award and a cheque for €50,000 (£44,703.80), which will now allow him to switch to the Junior British Rally Championship full-time in 2019.
The 24-year-old beat stiff competition from fellow R2 driver, Jordan Hone, and Toyota Starlet exponent Jason Black, to seal the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award.
He joins the likes of Josh Moffett, Keith Cronin and Craig Breen in winning the award.
He was shortlisted for the prestigious title after being crowned 2018 Irish Junior Forest Rally champion in his Peugeot 208 R2.
He gave a glimpse of his speed in the BRC on the Ypres Rally back in the summer by ending up on the JBRC podium alongside Motorsport UK Academy co-driver Gavin Doherty.
He also challenged for a top three result on the Pirelli International before eventually finishing up fourth.
“The knowledge and experience I have gathered over the last year means I can move forward to the next step and aim to win the Junior British Championship,” he told Motorsport News.
“I think it’s possible, but I realise that it’s going to be very tough given the string of talent that is already in the championship.”
That success came in a Peugeot 208 R2 and Wilson says it remains the most competitive dual surface car. Longer-term, he wants to invest his time and his money on events over in France. “We are going to stick with the 208,” he said. “The car has served us very well and with two seasons in it – on both Tarmac and gravel – I feel that I really know the Peugeot well. We are also looking at the 208 Rally Cup in France in 2020, so the experience we have in the car should help us if we decide to go there.”