McNern & Gallagher among Billy Coleman Award nominees

Two Donegal drivers, Darragh McNern from Bruckless and Letterkenny’s Marty Gallagher have named among the nominees for the Billy Coleman Young Driver of the Year award.
McNern finished 2nd in the Triton Showers National Junior class in his Toyota Corolla, and Peugeot 208 driver Gallagher who has dipped into England and Europe this year is eligible as the is the highest placed Junior in the Valvoline National Forestry Championship.
Derry’s Jordan Hone is also nominated for his performances in July and August, the 22 year-old from Claudy drove his Opel Adam to victory in the Junior class of the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally scored a class win in the Ulster International Rally.
Next Tuesday, 13 November, eight of Ireland’s most promising young rally drivers will make their cases to be selected and be declared the winner of the prestigious Award.

The other five nominees are James Wilson (Armagh), Derek Mackarel (Stone Bridge, Co Monaghan), Jason Black (Armagh),  Michael Hamilton (Miltown Malbay, Co Clare) and Colin O’Donoghue (Killarney, Kerry)
The final place on the interview list, the wildcard selection, goes to Colin O’Donoghue (Killarney), for his Junior wins on the Rally of the Lakes and the Skibbereen Fastnet, as well as runner up position in the West Cork Rally. Colin drove both a Ford Escort and a Honda Civic during the year.