Billy Coleman

In 2006 Billy Coleman was awarded RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award for his outstanding achievements in rallying.[6]

Billy Coleman holds the icon status in Irish racing, he features in Tarmac Titans DVD series on rally legends.[7]

The Billy Coleman Award was conceived in 2000 by partnership of Motorsport Ireland, Sport Ireland and Team Ireland. The aim of the award is to motivate young Irish rally drivers to step up into the international arena and rival the achievements of the young Billy Coleman.[8]

Irish-American billionaire, philanthropist, life-long motorsports supporter John Campion attributed much of his motivation to succeed to Billy Coleman's incredible achievements as a rally driver. John supported the launch of the Team Ireland Foundation in Dublin in 2016, where in his speech he said:

As a young boy in Cork I found myself struggling with school and at a loss as to what I would do with my life. But I always felt a bond with motorsport after witnessing Billy Coleman, a farmer who became a world rallying icon, competing near my home in Cork. After seeing Billy rallying I realised then that if you put your mind to it, you could achieve anything.[9]

John Campion emigrated to United States with $25 in his pocket to become the chairman and the CEO of an international energy corporation, and a philanthropist focusing on health, education and nutrition[10] as well as sponsor of racing drivers through the his motorsports organization CJJ Motorsports.[11][12] In his possession John had a collection of Lancia rally cars, inspired by Lancia Stratos HF driven by Billy Coleman in 1978.[13][14]