Billy Coleman

Billy Coleman is an Irish motorsport rally driver. Nicknamed Milstreet Maestro, Billy Coleman is Ireland's most successful motorsport rally driver—in twenty years of racing he has claimed 29 victories, and won British Rally Championship and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship titles.[1]

Billy Coleman
Nationality Irish
Born (1948-05-08) May 8, 1948
Millstreet, Cork, Ireland
Years active1969–1987
Starts128
Wins29
British Rally Championship
Years active1968–1987
Starts53
Wins6
Podiums14
Best finishWinner in 1974
Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
Years active1979–1987
Starts26
Wins11
Podiums13
Best finishWinner in 1984
National Rally Championship
Years active1970–1984
Starts8
Wins5
Podiums5
Championship titles
 Winner  1974 British Rally Championship
 Winner  1984 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship

History

Billy Coleman, a farmer native to Millstreet, Co. Cork still resides there today. He has developed an interest in cars from an early age, reminiscing how his father let him steer the car sitting on his knee at the age of five. His father Paddy Coleman was the Ford Main Dealer and owned a motor garage in Milstreet. Spending time at his father's garage further nurtured Billy's early interest in cars. Billy studied commerce in University College Cork, but preferred farming as his occupation, and undertook it full time after finishing up his racing career.[2] His first racing car was Ford Cortina which Billy drove in 1967. In 1969 a crashed Ford Escort was acquired, repaired and converted into a rally car. In this car he's got everyone's attention the first time in 1969. Billy won the special stage in this tatty looking self-prepared green Ford Escort Mark I (TIU 250) ahead of the works Ford Escort of Roger Clark.[3] Billy became famous in for his rallying skills all over Ireland as well as Britain, dominating the rallies in the 70s and 80s. He has also been seen in international arena, as far as Corsica and Monte Carlo.[4] In his racing career Billy Coleman drove Ford Cortina, Ford Escort, Alpine-Renault, Lancia Stratos, Fiat-Abarth 131, Opel Manta 400, Porsche 911, Porsche 959, MG Metro 6R4 and BMW M3.[2] Billy's two sons Robby Coleman and Gordon Coleman are also taking part in Irish and British racing events, with full their father's support.[5]

Legacy

RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award

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

DVD

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

Billy Coleman young driver of the year award

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]

Influence on John Campion

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]

Racing record

Between his active racing years 1968 to 1987 Billy Coleman started in 128 national and international rally events and claimed 29 victories.[15]

Season Series Car Races Race Wins Title Win
1969 British Rally Championship Ford Escort Mk I 1 0
1970 National Rally Championship Ford Escort Mk I 1 1
British Rally Championship 1 0
1971 National Rally Championship Ford Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110
1 1
British Rally Championship 3 0
European Rally Championship 2 0
International Championship for Manufacturers 2 0
1972 National Rally Championship Ford Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110
2 1
British Rally Championship 3 0
International Championship for Manufacturers 2 0
1973 British Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI 1 0
European Rally Championship 1 0
World Rally Championship 1 0
1974 British Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI 6 1  Winner 
European Rally Championship 4 0
World Rally Championship 1 0
1975 British Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI
Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
10 3
European Rally Championship 6 1
World Rally Championship 1 0
1976 National Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
Lancia Stratos HF
1 1
British Rally Championship 10 1
European Rally Championship 5 2
World Rally Championship 1 0
1977 British Rally Championship Lancia Stratos HF
Fiat 131 Abarth
7 0
European Rally Championship 8 0
World Rally Championship 1 0
1978 British Rally Championship Lancia Stratos HF
Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1 0
European Rally Championship 5 0
World Rally Championship 1 0
1979 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
Porsche Carrera RS
2 1
British Rally Championship 2 0
European Rally Championship 7 1
World Rally Championship 1 0
1980 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII 2 0
British Rally Championship 1 0
European Rally Championship 3 0
1981 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII 1 0
European Rally Championship 1 0
1982 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400
2 0
National Rally Championship 1 0
British Rally Championship 1 0
European Rally Championship 1 0
1983 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400
2 1
British Rally Championship 1 0
European Rally Championship 1 0
1984 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Opel Manta 400 6 4  Winner 
National Rally Championship 1 1
British Rally Championship 2 1
European Rally Championship 1 0
1985 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Porsche 911 SC RS
Ford Escort G3
4 2
British Rally Championship 1 0
European Rally Championship 1 0
World Rally Championship 1 0
1986 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Porsche 911 SC RS
MG Metro 6R4
5 3
British Rally Championship 2 0
European Rally Championship 2 0
1987 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship BMW M3 E30 2 0
British Rally Championship 1 0
European Rally Championship 1 0

References

  1. eWRC-results.com. "Billy Coleman - rally profile". Ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  2. "Emerald idol | Motor Sport Magazine Archive". Motorsportmagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  3. "The Billy Coleman web page". Homepage.eircom.net. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  4. by michaeld (2010-03-10). "Billy Coleman – Tarmac Titan DVD –". Millstreet.ie. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  5. https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/sport/other-sports/billy-coleman-27064801.html
  6. "Shefflin named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year". RTE. 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  7. "Billy Coleman - Shop - RPM Motorsport - Irish Rallying DVDs for sale by Ireland's #1 Motorsport TV Programme". RPM Motorsport. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  8. Motorsport Ireland. "Overseas News". Motorsport Ireland. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  9. "Motorsport Ireland Launch Team Ireland Foundation at the Mansion House". Motorsport.ie. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  10. "Home Page". John and Suzanne Campion Foundation. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  11. "News". John and Suzanne Campion Foundation. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  12. "Ambitious Breen aims to boost quest for return to World stage with Easter Stages Rally success". Belfast Telegraph. 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  13. "MotoJohn Campion's Lifelong Obsession With Group B Rally Has Shaped A World Class Collection". petrolicious.com. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  14. "Rally Cars And Ford GTs Invade The 2016 Concours d'Elegance Of America". Forbes Media LLC. 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  15. "Billy Coleman". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
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