The 500 Motor Racing Club of Ireland presented their awards for both the 2020 and 2021 seasons at The Ballymac Hotel, near Lisburn on Saturday 8th January 2022.
With attendance numbers being slightly lower than in previous years, in most cases, only trophies belonging to those present were handed over.
Donal O’Neill compered the evening and began by announcing that Ingo Dohnke, father of Fiesta racer Timon, had made the journey from Germany to lend his support to the event. As such he had been asked and agreed to present the awards.
The 2020 awards were given out first.
Strangford driver, Megan Campbell, was first up and collected her trophy for 3rd in the Fiesta Championship.
Next up were the BMW330i Cup winners. Derry driver, Gavin Kilkey took 1st place. Lisburn driver, Greer Wray was 2nd and his brother, Keith, from Dundonald was 3rd.
Paul Sheridan, from Randalstown, won the Mod-5-Cup for Mazda MX5s.
In the Roadsports Championship, Moira driver Kieron Smyth took 2nd overall and 1st in Class A.
In Formula Ford 1600, The Randalstown Rocket, Alan Davidson, took 2nd overall and won the Pre-90 class. Chris Hillis, from Drumbo was 2nd in the Pre-90 and Ballymena veteran, Henry Campbell, was 3rd.
The 2021 awards were next and once again, Alan Davidson, was wearing down a trench from his table to the stage, collecting trophy after trophy. He took 2nd Overall in the Formula Ford 1600 and won the Pre-90 Class again.
However, this time it was the “New Kid On The Block”, Brandon McCaughey, from Ballycastle who took 2nd place in the Pre-90s. Henry Campbell picked up the 3rd place trophy on behalf of Ryan Campbell.
Paul Sheridan took 3rd in the Modi-5-Cup for Mazda MX5s and Megan Campbell took another 3rd place in the Fiesta Championship.
In the BMW 330i Cup, Greer Wray took 2nd place and this time his brother, Keith, won!
In the Saloon Championship, Isle of Man driver, now resident in Dublin, Dan Keelan, took a popular 3rd place. 2nd was Keith Wray and 1st was the compere for the evening, Donal O’Neill, who hails from Nutt’s Corner.
The Marshal Of The Year trophy went to Nigel McCutcheon.
The award for Rookie of the Year went to Brandon McCaughey.
John Harris, who prepares many of the FF1600 cars, won the Personality of The Year Award.
The audience thought that everything had been awarded but it turned out that Ingo had brought a number of gifts with him. He gave 2022 calendars to both Donal O’Neill and Richard Young as leading organisers of the 500MRCI and he seemed to have something for everyone connected with the Fiesta class.
He finished by giving a touching speech about how welcome he and Timon had been made to feel by everyone at Kirkistown during 2021.
Final championship standings for 2021 can be viewed here – https://kirkistown.com/final-championship-standings-for-2021/
Words: DONAL O’NEILL | 500 MRCI Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY
[Images must not be used in any way without prior written consent of the photographer]
The Five Hundred Motor Racing Club of Ireland presented their awards for both the 2020 and 2021 seasons at The Ballymac Hotel, near Lisburn on Saturday 8th January 2022. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Kieron Smyth took 2nd Overall and 1st in Class A of the 2020 Roadsports. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Paul Sheridan, who won the 2020 Modi-5-Cup for Mazda MX5s with Ingo. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Henry Campbell was 3rd in the Pre-90 FF1600 class in 2020. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Keith Wray was 3rd in the 2020 BMW330i Championship. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Greer Wray was 2nd in the 2020 BMW 330i Championship. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Gavin Kilkey won the 2020 BMW330i Championship. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Nigel McCutcheon won the 2021 Marshal of the Year award. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Chris Hillis fron Belfast and Ingo. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Brandon McCaughan was the Rookie of the Year for 2021. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Paul Sheridan was 3rd in the 2021 Modi-5-Cup. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Kieron Smyth took 2nd Overall and 1st in Class A of the 2020 Roadsports. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Megan Campbell (with Richard Young from the 500MRCI in the background). (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Dan Keelan, from Dublin, took 3rd place in the 2021 Saloons. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Keith Wray won the 2021 BMW330i Championship and also was awarded the Jim McClements Trophy. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Alan Davidson collecting two of his many awards from Ingo. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Donal O’Neill won the 2021 Saloon Championship. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Keith Wray won the 2021 BMW330i Championship and also was awarded the Jim McClements Trophy. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Donal O’Neill (L) and Ingo Dohnke (R) were a good double-act on the night! (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Ricky Hull, from Downpatrick, who provided the race car for Timon Dohnke during 2021, gets a special present from Ingo. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Ingo presents Richard Young and Donal O’Neill with 2022 calendars. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
John Harris was the 2021 Personality of the Year! (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry) 
Alan Davidson was the most prolific winner on the evening, here seen with all of his awards. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry)
