Colin McRae IRC award thrills rising star McCormack

Marty McCormack has described receiving the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy following his battling performance on the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally as “amazing”.

The 26-year-old Northern Irish driver was chosen as the recipient of the prestigious award by the panel of judges consisting of Intercontinental Rally Challenge Motorsport Development Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Eurosport’s Gilbert Roy and Jimmy McRae, father of the late Colin McRae.

“This is absolutely amazing,” said McCormack, who won the IRC 2WD Cup section of the Circuit of Ireland Rally. “After all the challenges we’ve faced this weekend, this really makes things better. I do see some connections when Colin came up from so many battles and so many difficulties, which is the sort of weekend we’ve had with the bent beam on Friday, the punctures, the gearbox and alternator problems. It’s amazing to be thought of in this way.”

McCormack, who was co-driven on the Armagh-based rally by David Moynihan, hadn’t driven in competition for six months, something that registered with Jimmy McRae during the decision-making process.

“This rally was very much a one-off for Marty because of his money situation but he’s come out and taken the opportunity by the scruff of the neck,” said McRae. “That’s one of the main reasons why he’s go this trophy.”

The Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy is presented on all rounds of the IRC to the driver whose performance best embodies the spirit of the rallying legend, who won the Circuit of Ireland Rally back in 1991.