Donegal’s 17‑year‑old Oisín McShane nominated for Billy Coleman Award

Seventeen‑year‑old rally driver Oisín McShane from Illistrin, Co Donegal, has been nominated for the June‑October 2026 Billy Coleman Award for Young Rally Driver of the Year.

Award nomination

McShane, a student at St Joseph’s Boys’ School, Derry, competed in a Peugeot 208 R2 this season, achieving six class wins across gravel and tarmac events. His victories included class wins on the Donegal International Rally, the Jim Walsh Cork Forestry Rally and the Stonethrowers Rally, and a tenth‑overall finish on the Laois Forestry Rally.

He also entered his first overseas event, finishing eighteenth overall on the Portuguese Rali da Água in September.

McShane, who began RSA events in 2023 at age 13, moved up to the J1000 category for 2024 and secured the J1000 titles in both the Irish Forestry Rally Championship and the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series, becoming the youngest driver to win those titles.

Supported by sponsors including Ecodan Renewable Heating Technology, iHeating and Cooling, Glenard Plant, Kelly Motorsports and The Craig Breen Foundation, McShane joins other nominees such as Oran England, Ben McFall, James McShea, David Travers, Tommy Furlong and Jack Harris. A wildcard nomination will be announced later this week.

The award, funded by Sport Ireland and Motorsport Ireland, carries a €50,000 support package for 2027, with additional development assistance from the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Marcin Cieślak / Pexels.