23 year old Lee Newsome from Ashford has been selected Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Month for July. The young Wicklowman’s performances during the month, which included a pair of third places in the Formula Sheane races at both Anglesey and Kirkistown, as well as a new class lap record at the Welsh circuit, have earned him the nomination.
Sponsored by Artic Air and Carraig Stonework, Lee is one of the regular front-runners in this very competitive class, and is currently serving his apprenticeship in the refrigeration/air conditioning business. He plans to race in either Formula Sheane or Formula Vee next year.
Lee started out in motorsport aged 16, driving Midget racing cars for two years, winning the 850 and Junior championships as well as the Wicklow and Dublin Cups, and taking second place in the overall Geller Cup.
He began driving Sheanes in 2006, winning the Scholarship section of the championship the following year, and has remained in that class since, scoring his first win at the Leinster Trophy Mondello meeting last September.
Lee is the fourth Dunlop Driver of the Month for the 2009 season, and is now a contender for the prestigious €50,000 Dunlop Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Award. This award is presented annually and is sponsored by Dunlop, the Irish Sports Council and Motorsport Ireland.