A Donegal rally driver, who escaped serious injury and returned to win the Modified Championship title, is in the running for the prestigious Billy Coleman award.
26-year-old Kevin Eves, who hails from Pettigo, is short-listed alongside Callum Devine from Derry and Jonny Treanor of Monaghan.
In August, Eves’ 12th-placed finish at the Ulster Rally secured the Clonakilty Black Pudding Modified Championship crown.
That came just two months after he and William Lynch, his co-driver, crashed out of the Donegal International Rally on the infamous Wilhare’s Corner on the Knockalla stage.
Eves broke two metatarsals and fractured another after a concrete post pierced through the Toyota Corolla.
Otherwise, it had been a fine year for Eves and his listing among the nominees for the Billy Coleman Award is testament to his talents.
The three drivers were chosen from a shortlist of eight candidates from throughout Ireland who were nominated for the award on the merits of their performances during the year.
All the finalists faced a rigorous selection process which included interviews from a panel of judges comprising members of the media, an official from Sport Ireland, and representatives from the club and rallying world.
The internationally-recognised award is one of the most prestigious accolades that any young driver on the island of Ireland can aspire to. It comes with a prize valued at €50,000 in support to help the winner develop their career.
The overall winner of the 2017 award will be announced at the Beta Irish Motorsport Awards ceremony which will take place on Tuesday, December 5th in The Round Room at The Mansion House, Dublin. The Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year award is presented annually and is supported by Sport Ireland, Motorsport Ireland and its affiliated clubs.
Devine was the winner of the Junior British Rally Championship and was the Winner of the Junior section of the Ypres Rally while Treanor was second overall in both the Junior National Rally Championship and the Junior National Border Championship.
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