Craig Breen wins Billy Coleman Award

MOTORSPORT IRELAND ANNOUNCE
YOUNG RALLY DRIVER OF THE YEAR

From a final list of three, Motorsport Ireland is delighted to announce that the winner of the 2009 Billy Coleman Award for the Young Rally Driver of the Year is Craig Breen.

Craig, from Kilmurry, County Waterford is just 19 years old and made his debut in Rallying in August 2007, having graduated from a successful career in Kart Racing. The other two finalists were Jonathan Cunningham from Claregalway and Kevin O’Connor from Askeaton.

In winning four separate Rally championships in 2009 Craig has shown himself to be an outstanding talent in all respects.

The highlights of the year included winning the National Junior Rally Championship and finishing 3rd overall in the Birr Stages Rally, beating many 4 wheel drive turbo charged cars in the process.

Craig also clinched the International Fiesta ST Trophy at the final British round of the World Rally Championship on 25th October.

Craig’s ambition is to be the first ever Irish winner of the World Rally Championship. With the talent he has displayed this year who would bet against it?

The next step on this journey begins next season when he competes for the British Rally Championship. Craig will also take in a number of World Rally Championship events as a precursor to switching full time to the World Championship.

Photo credit: Trevor McGrath- www.rallyprint.com