With one of the smaller budgets in the FIA Production World Rally Championship and a season fraught with uncertainty, Niall McShea has been awarded the final Inmarsat Star of the Rally this season.
The 31-year old competed in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship in 2001 and 2002 and now drives a Subaru Impreza WRX for the SYMS Rally Team. He has also been awarded the Roger Clark Award for future promise. He has struggled all season to make the budget to compete in the championship but has never given up and for this tenacity has been rewarded with the winning the 2004 FIA Production car World Rally Championship (for drivers). Nicky Grist, former co-driver and head of the panel of judges explains:
“We are absolutely delighted to give this award to Niall. He has shown some real qualities this season, true commitment, resilience, and a fighting spirit worthy of a champion. He has struggled financially this season and it is down to the generosity of Lloyd Helicopters and rally community in Ireland.” Commenting on his Inmarsat Star trophy win, Niall said:
“This is absolutely fantastic and I am over the moon. It has been an emotional rollercoaster and I have had the best and worst year. I had such high hopes and expectations and during this rally I really didn’t think it was going to happen. I have been in this situation before and just kept telling myself to never give up, even when you think an opportunity is dead and buried, just dig it up and shock it back to life!”
Judged by a panel of FIA WRC experts led by Nicky Grist, the Inmarsat Star of the Rally is announced on the final day of each WRC event and rewards an individual or group who truly shines. The award picks out an individual or group who exudes one of the following criteria: TEAM SPIRIT, RESILIENCE, COURAGE, SKILL and INSPIRATION, COMMITMENT. Inmarsat is the exclusive global partner to the FIA WRC. Its satellite technology enables the sport to communicate real time results and timings across the globe from anywhere in the world.
