2008 British Formula Ford Champion and 2008 Formula Ford Festival winner Wayne Boyd celebrated an amazing start to the year having collected two major sports awards in Northern Ireland, the prestigious Belfast Telegraph Young Player of the Year and the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs ANICC Driver of the Year.
In recognition of his dominant performances in British motor sport where he won15 races, started from pole 15 times, set 14 fastest laps and stood on the podium 21 times out of 25 starts, Wayne began the week by collecting the Belfast Telegraph Young Player of the Year on Monday night (19th January 2009). Winners of the award are chosen from across all sport in Northern Ireland in recognition of outstanding success during the year. This year Wayne beat off competition from several outstanding athletes including: David Ames (hockey), Paul Stirling (cricket) and Chelsey Wilson (swimming). Previous winners have gone onto become household names in Northern Ireland, such as golfer Rory McIlroy, bike racer Jonathan Rea and snooker player Mark Allen.
The award was presented at the annual star-studded Northern Ireland Sports Awards in Belfast. Less than a week later and Wayne was being honoured again. This time by the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs, on Saturday night (24th January 2009) where he was selected as the ANICC Driver of the Year, the premier motor sport award in Northern Ireland. It is rare for this award to be won by a circuit racing driver, especially one so young, and is more usually the reserve of the rallying fraternity.
Being selected is an indication of just how highly thought of Wayne is by the motor sport community at home in Northern Ireland. Previous racing driver winners include Eddie Irvine, Adam Carroll and Tim Mullen.
Wayne Boyd said, It's just amazing to win, I was excited to be invited but I never expected to win anything. When I heard my name being called it was such a surprise. I'm blown away by it! It's a big honour that we have been recognised in this way, especially from outside of motor racing. Thanks to my Dad, my sponsors and all the guys at Jamun Racing, it's their award as much as mine. I can't wait now to get back in a race car very soon. Roll on the 2009 F3 race season".
