DUNLOP YOUNG RACING DRIVER OF THE YEAR 2009
Motorsport Ireland are delighted to announce that twenty two year old Patrick McKenna from Swords, County Dublin has been selected as the winner of the “Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Year” title for 2009.
From a short list of six drivers who qualified for consideration throughout the season Patrick has shown himself to be the outstanding talent over the past motor racing season.
This year, Patrick contested the British Formula Ford Championship in a French made Mygale racing car run by Jamun Racing based in the UK.
While an outright win proved elusive, the judges were clearly impressed by two second place finishes, three third place finishes, three fastest race laps and two pole positions in a form of racing that is noted for its competitiveness. Competitors from USA, Australia, Finland, Germany, Holland, Brazil, India and the UK ensured Patrick was competing against the best in the world making his achievements all the more noteworthy.
Patrick, like so many others, began his motorsport career in Kart Racing winning both the Irish Open Kart and the “C” Plate Kart Championships before moving on to FF1600.
This is not the first time Patrick has come to the attention of the judges, as he was runner up last year for the Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Year Award. Sponsored by Willsborough Transport and DIT Sports, thanks to Paul Kenny, this young student of Manufacturing Engineering intends to race in either Britain or the USA next year.
The Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Year Award is sponsored by Dunlop with additional support from the Irish Sports Council and Motorsport Ireland. The award, the Dunlop Sexton Trophy, includes a supported season in motor racing during 2010 to the value of €50,000.
Other drivers who qualified for the final stages were Robert Barrable, Lee Newsome, Kevin O’Hara, Aron Smith and Gary Thompson.
The formal presentation of awards will take place at the Dunlop Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards Lunch in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, on Tuesday 8th December.