MOTOR SPORT/Weekend Preview: In monetary terms the big winners at this week's Alfa Romeo-sponsored "Awards For Excellence" in Irish Motorsport were Michael Devaney and Shaun Gallagher.
For the second successive year Devaney won the Motorsport Ireland "Young Racing Driver of the Year" top prize and a support package of finance and expert training worth €32,000. He also won the Dunlop Sexton Trophy for a second successive year.
The Dublin driver, who celebrated his 18th birthday last Friday, finished fifth in this year's German-based Formula-BMW Championship. He has decided against German Formula Three in 2003 in favour of a second season in the Formula-BMW series for young professionals. Devaney will drive for the team run by 1982 Formula One World Champion Keke Rosberg.
Gallagher (22), of Letterkenny, also received a €32,000 package and the "Young Rally Driver of the Year" accolade in the Billy Coleman Award scheme. He scored success in France, UK and at home, and was narrowly beaten into second place in the Peugeot 206 Championship in the UK.
The Manley Memorial Trophy for the Irish International Driver of The Year was presented to Andrew Nesbitt (Armagh). With Cork co-driver James O'Brien, Nesbitt won five international rallies this year to win the Tarmac Championship for a second time.
Niall Maguire (Monaghan) won the Vard Memorial Trophy for winning the National Rally Championship, also for a second time. The Hall of Fame award was presented to Michael Roe (Naas) whose successes in the 1970s included the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, with the pinnacle of his pro career being victory in the CanAm Championship in America and Canada in 1984. Jeffrey Collier (Delgany) was award the King Hussein Trophy for winning the Irish Karting Championship. The Neil Shanahan Memorial Trophy was presented to Junior Kart Champion Richard Tannahill (Coleraine).
A special tribute was paid to two Sexton Trophy winners who recently died, Vivion Daly winner in 1984 and 1986, and Dickie Odlum, winner in 1953.
Dublin teenager Patrick Hogan is in a shoot-out next week at Rockingham for the winner-takes-it-all super prize of a full season in the UK "Avon Junior" Formula Ford Zetec Championhip, worth over €100,000.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday: MEC, Sporting Trial, Russelltown, Blessington, Co Wicklow, 11.30 a.m. Sunday: Munster MC & CC, Navigation Trial, starts Russell Rovers GAA Hall, Shanagarry, Cork, noon; Garda Siochana MC, stage rally, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, 9.15 a.m.
