Leaving Cert. Student Wins The Rallyconnection Rally Scholarship 2005
Saturday 10th December saw the final of the Rallyconnection Scholarship at the Rallyconnection Rallyschool Millstreet, Cappagh, Co. Waterford. 6 novice drivers who had qualified during the year by competing in 2 assessment rounds contested the final. Most of the contestants would never have sat in a rally car before never mind have driven one and none of them would have ever held a drivers competition licence.The quality of these drivers who reached the second round and ultimately the final was above expectation and treated us to a wonderful display of car control at high speeds making the task of determining the eventual winner a difficult one for the judges who were none other than the Dunlop national tarmac champion Ray Breen and the McAuley national forestry champion and 2005 Billy Coleman award winner Gareth MacHale.
The final was contested in Mk2 Escorts been driven both clockwise and anti-clockwise on Level 1 of the Rallyschool and then 2 timed laps in each car clockwise again on level 1. The event was covered by On The Limit Sports TV cameras and Flat To the Mat motorsport magazine.
The finalists were Christopher Doran from Kildare, Sean O Sullivan from Cork, Tom Ryan from Clare, Barry-John Mc Henry from Dublin, Shane Healy from Carlow and the overall winner 18 year old Michael Mc Kennedy from Clonakilty Co. Cork.
Michael earned himself a once in a lifetime opportunity of a free rally drive in next years Forestry championship which includes rally car hire, rally entry fee, tyres, petrol, all safety gear, co-driver and service crew, - a full arrive and drive package worth in excess of €3,500.