Kiernan gains Young Rally Driver of the Year nomination

Gary Kiernan has been nominated for this year’s Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award for his performances in September and October.

The 22 year-old from Bailieborough, Co Cavan, drove his 1650 cc Ford Escort to class victories in Clare, Donegal and Skibbereen during the two months, which not only gave him a class win in the Dunlop National Rally Championship but also confirmed him as the overall winner of the Border Championship, which is based on class performances.

Gary began rallying in 2011, driving in a restricted number of events while he continued his studies, and this year was his first time to mount a serious campaign. Earlier in the season, successes in Mayo, Cavan and Sligo provided a solid points base and he kept the momentum going, to end the year in style.

He intends to finish the year with an outing in a larger, 2 litre Escort in the Killarney Historic Rally in December, and would like to contest rounds of the Dunlop National and Border series in this car next year, as well as the National sections of Irish International rallies. Another possibility is the British Rally Championship, if he were to win the Billy Coleman Award.

Gary has recently completed his degree in Agricultural Science at Dundalk Institute of Technology and works in the family pig farming business. His principal sponsors are Kiernan Milling, Buddy Kiernan’s Pub (Granard), SMH Rallybitz (Keady), Gordon Automotive, Fire Protection Ireland, Westenra Arms Hotel/Spy Nightclub, Bridge Tavern (Canningstown) and CMC Motorsport.

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 2014 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 2014, along with co-ordinator support.

Five bi-monthly winners are selected from January-February, through to September-October, joined by the winner of the Junior Championship in the Dunlop National series, the winner of the Junior class in the Valvoline National Forestry Championship, and a wildcard selection, as the award finalists.