The 2023 SW Adair Tyres Northern Ireland Sprint Championship was celebrated at Edenmore Golf & Country Club in Magheralin on Saturday 20th January 2024.
Around 120 guests filled the room, and these comprised of award winners, their family, and friends, as well as members of the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs. The meal was well received, and presentations were made between courses.
The awards started with the ladies, as follows:
The Heaslip Ladies Challenge Trophy was introduced around three years ago, and sponsor, Jimmy Heaslip was called upon to present the awards.
Taking her maiden win was Amy Hawthorne, who has challenged for the ladies’ sprint trophy since she passed her driving test, which was around the time this award was launched.
Second overall went to Emma Campbell, whilst novice to the sport, Jenny Pollock had a fantastic year by finishing in third. Jenny was also awarded the Newcomers Award later in the night, such was her progression during the season.
In the classes:
CLASS 1 2WD Roadgoing cars up to 1700cc
2nd Paul Forsythe
1st Alan Wallace
CLASS 2A 2WD Roadgoing cars over 1700cc
2nd Ian Thompson
1st Crawford Ewing Jnr
CLASS 2B Mazda MX5 Challenge
3rd Wayne Clyde
2nd Barry McCann
1st Craig Ewing
CLASS 3 4WD Roadgoing Series Production cars
2nd Paul Grady
1st Tony Grady
CLASS 5 All other Roadgoing Specialist Production cars
1st Gardiner McIlwaine
CLASS 6A 2WD Modified Series Production cars 2V per cylinder
2nd Gary Milligan
1st Karl Johnston
CLASS 6B 2WD Modified Series Production cars 16V
3rd Dessie Martin
2nd Ken Colbert
1st James Lightbody
CLASS 7 2WD Modified Specialist Production
2nd Andy Hawthorne
1st David Hawthorne
CLASS 8 2WD Sports Libre Special Saloons Inc Spaceframe Chassis
1st Richard O’Mahoney
CLASS 9A 2WD Sports Libre Saloon and Sports GT cars
3rd Garry Campbell
2nd Daniel Campbell
1st Emma Campbell
CLASS 10 2WD Sports Libre Rally Cars up to 1650cc
2nd Alan Roddy
1st Raymond Johnston
CLASS 11 2WD Sports Libre Rally Cars over 1650 cc
2nd Derek Robinson
1st Ian Getty
CLASS 12 All other 4WD Sports Libre Cars
2nd Ryan Murray
1st Adrian Kelt
CLASS 13 FF1600 and Formula VW
3rd Adrian Pollock
2nd Stephen Wishart
1st Henry Campbell
CLASS 14 Racing cars up to 2000cc
3rd Ryan McGimpsey
2nd Scott McMullan
1st Ethan Faulkner
CLASS 15 All other Racing cars
3rd Robert McGimpsey
2nd Gerard O’Connell
1st Alan Cassells
CLASS 16A Historic Roadgoing Saloons and Sportscars
3rd Ian Paget
2nd Mervyn Getty
1st Gerry McGarrity
CLASS 16B All other Historic Saloons and Sportscars
1st Stephen Harvey
In the hotly contested categories:
David Hawthorne won the Specialist Category from Andy Hawthorne. Crawford Ewing Jnr was crowned Roadgoing Saloon Champion, from Gerry McGarrity. Finally, receiving the Burrows Memorial Trophy was Modified Saloon Champion, Daniel Campbell who took the win from Raymond Johnston.
Overall honours:
Lifting the K D Kars Trophy for winning the championship was Alan Cassells, with Gerard O’Connell finishing just two points behind in second. Rounding off the podium was Lisburn driver, Ethan Faulkner who, despite being a relative newbie, held off Scott McMullan in a great season-long battle to claim his heist overall finish to date.
“I am delighted to have won the 2023 championship in my newly acquired Force single seater, which has been totally overhauled with a new engine package. It is being further developed for 2024, which will be another exciting year for the sport and I look forward to defending the championship.” Stated winner, Alan Cassells.
Having sponsored this series for thirty years, Bill Adair of SW Adair Tyres paid tribute to the clubs, officials and the army of volunteers required for the events to run, in order to have a championship. Congratulating the winners, he thanked each and every competitor as well as his many customers.
Secretary of the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs, Grace King stated, “2023 was another tremendous year for motorsport in Northern Ireland. Our speed championships continued to produce some exceptional driving, with many of our talented competitors reaching personal goals and some fantastic new talent joining both disciplines.
“At the heart of each event here in NI are an outstanding number of volunteers performing various different roles to ensure our events run safely and seamlessly, to extremely high standards. These volunteers are the backbone of our sport, and we are eternally grateful for all their hard-work and dedication.”
Continuing, “On behalf of ANICC, can I congratulate all who have received awards in both the Motorsport Supplies Northern Ireland Hill Climb Championship and the S.W. Adair Tyres Northern Ireland Sprint Championship. I wish everyone a safe and successful year’s motorsport in 2024, and look forward to seeing our clubs, events and championships continue to go from strength to strength.”
Chairman of the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs, Wilson Carson said, “As we celebrate the success of our 2023 Motorsport Supplies Northern Ireland Hill Climb Championship and the S.W. Adair Tyres Northern Ireland Sprint Championship award winners, we take time to reflect on a highly successful season for both championships.
“Event entries continue to remain steady, even in these difficult economic times, and we continue to see new talent coming through in both championships. I would like to commend all those who put so much effort into making our championships so successful and the clubs who put so much time and effort into planning and running the events.
“Our championship would fail to be viable without the generous support of our sponsors, Motorsport Supplies and S.W. Adair Tyres, and we look forward to working with them again in the new season. We are now looking forward to the 2024 season, where it is hoped that the standard of events and competition will continue to rise here in Northern Ireland.”
In closing, “Best of luck to all competing in the 2024 championships, and we at ANICC hope they have a safe and enjoyable season.”
The 2024 Sprint Calendar:
02nd March – NUCC, Nutts Corner
16th March – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown
06th April – NUCC, Nutts Corner
01st June – Enniskillen MC, St Angelo
03rd August – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown
04th August – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown
14th September – Larne MC, Kirkistown
28th September 2023 – NUCC, Nutts Corner
05th October – UAC, Kirkistown
26th October – 500 MRCI, Kirkistown
