Pettigo rally driver Kevin Eves was pipped to the Billy Coleman Award for the Young Rally Driver of the Year.
Eves, who had an eventful and successful 2017, made the final three in the short-list for the prestigious award.
But it was scooped by 23-year-old Callum Devine.
The Derryman fended off a number of other great young drivers to take top spot in what has been described as one of the closest decisions in recent years.
Callum was nominated for the prestigious award on the back of some fantastic results this year. He had many standout performances particularly while winning the Junior British Rally Championship and when claiming victory in his class at the Ypres Rally in Belgium.
As part of the award, Callum will receive support to the value of €50,000 for the 2018 season.
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.
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