Caldwell nominated for prestigious Billy Coleman Award
Meath driver continues to make progress in chosen sport
On the back of winning the Motor Sport Ireland Junior Rally Series Cian Caldwell has been nominated for the prestigious Billy Coleman Award. He will now also take his place in the Motor Sport Ireland Rally Academy.
The winner of the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award will receive €100,000 worth of support to contest rallies nationally and internationally in 2024.
Coupled with Sport Ireland and Motorsport Ireland’s €50,000 investment, a further €50,000 has been pledged by the Team Ireland Foundation.
The 19-year-old Caldwell is a Meath native who started his rallying career at the end of 2022. His nomination comes from a successful MIJRS JR2/Rally4 campaign at the helm of a Ford Fiesta Rally4.
Caldwell had many victories over the season competing against many seasoned drivers.
When he's not rallying, Caldwell is hard at work as a vehicle body repair specialist apprentice in the family business - TD Caldwell Accident Repair Centre in Navan.
The youngster cites his 2017 representation of Ireland at the Karting World Finals in Le Mans as his career highlight, until it was eclipsed by MIJRS success this year and getting to be competitive on both tarmac and gravel.
Cian Caldwell would like to thank his co-driver Liam Egan, his sponsors for their support, Airport Driving School, Panda Waste, LKQ Euro Carparts, Jack & Jones, Pzazz Media, TD Caldwell, The Children’s House Montessori, Autotech Bodyshop and Leinster Chemicals. He also thanks Gary and all the crew at MCN Rallying for ensuring he is always in a position to be competitive.
Caldwell's Championship Results This Year
1st Sligo Pallets Border Championship
2nd Sligo Pallets Forestry championship
3rd Motorsport Ireland National Championship
The Coleman award winner will also receive assistance from Billy Coleman co-ordinator Sean McHugh.
Additional support from the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy as part of a training and development plan to progress the winners’ career will also be available.
The winner may also apply for funding for a second year of support upon satisfactory performances in their award-winning year. Both award runners up will receive support to compete in stage rallies at home and abroad up to an amount of €15,000 each.
Looking ahead Caldwell has changed to a Peugeot 208 Rally 4 for 2024 and will compete in the new Rally 4 Cup. Launching 2024 This cup will consist of eight rounds, four in Ireland and 4 in the UK offering a mixture of both Gravel and Tarmac events. The total prize fund is over €75,000. Caldwell will also contest the Irish Tarmac and the British Rally Championships in 2024.