Eric Calnan has been nominated Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award
CALNAN GAINS YOUNG RALLY DRIVER OF THE YEAR NOMINATION
Eric Calnan has been nominated for this year’s Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award for his performances in September and October.
The 25 year-old from Carrigaline, Co Cork, drove his Peugeot 106 to victory in the Junior sections of both the Cork 20 International and last weekend’s Fastnet Rally, finishing in a tremendous eleventh place overall in the Skibbereen event. Earlier in the year, he took third position in the Junior section of the International Rally of the Lakes, and was runner-up in the Southern 4 Championship for the second year in succession.
Eric began rallying in 2013, and has contested the Southern 4 series from 2014 onwards. He intends to tackle either the Triton Showers National Rally Championship or the Irish Tarmac series in 2017.
Eric is a self-employed mechanical engineer in Novartis, in Ringaskiddy, Cork. His principal sponsor is CBtoolhire.com, with further assistance from Colin Byrne of Midleton, Donal O’Brien Cars, TM Valeting and Shane Fitzgerald Evo Signs, of Cork.
The winner of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award receives €50,000 worth of support to contest stage rallies nationally & internationally in 2017 along with the support of Billy Coleman co-ordinator, Tom Walsh, while the two runners-up will receive free entries into a number of MI permitted events in 2017, along with co-ordinator support.
Eric joins with the four other bi-monthly winners selected from January-February, through to July-August, along with the highest placed eligible drivers from both the Junior Championship in the Triton Showers National series and the Junior category in the Valvoline National Forestry Championship, and a wildcard selection, as the award finalists.
pic; rally through a lens
