Weasel 555
12-02-2011, 05:13 AM
Thierry Neuville has won the prestigious Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy Driver of the Year for 2011.
The award, won for the first time in 2010 by Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke, goes to the driver whose performance during the course of the season best embodied the spirit of the rallying legend.
Colin’s father Jimmy McRae, who formed part of the judging panel along with IRC Motorsport Development Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Gilbert Roy, Eurosport Events’ Director of Editorial and Programme Development, was in attendance to hand over the coveted award to Neuville, who won two IRC rounds in 2011 for Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg.
“If it was necessary to go flat out then Colin was the best example,” said Neuville. “He did it a few more times as us and while I don’t want to crash as many times as him of course I want to get his speed and, if necessary, go flat out on the last stage. We did it a few times this year and always it went in a good direction so we a very pleased for this.”
Neuville, 23, was co-driven to fifth position in the final IRC drivers’ standings by fellow Belgian Nicolas Gilsoul. Between them they claimed victories in Corsica and Sanremo, finished second in Hungary and third in Canarias. They led five rounds in total and Neuville received the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy for his individual performances in Canarias, Corscia and Hungary. They also won the end-of-season Cyprus Golden Stage Rally.
click: ircseries.com/news=3325 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=3325)
.:cool:
The award, won for the first time in 2010 by Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke, goes to the driver whose performance during the course of the season best embodied the spirit of the rallying legend.
Colin’s father Jimmy McRae, who formed part of the judging panel along with IRC Motorsport Development Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Gilbert Roy, Eurosport Events’ Director of Editorial and Programme Development, was in attendance to hand over the coveted award to Neuville, who won two IRC rounds in 2011 for Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg.
“If it was necessary to go flat out then Colin was the best example,” said Neuville. “He did it a few more times as us and while I don’t want to crash as many times as him of course I want to get his speed and, if necessary, go flat out on the last stage. We did it a few times this year and always it went in a good direction so we a very pleased for this.”
Neuville, 23, was co-driven to fifth position in the final IRC drivers’ standings by fellow Belgian Nicolas Gilsoul. Between them they claimed victories in Corsica and Sanremo, finished second in Hungary and third in Canarias. They led five rounds in total and Neuville received the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy for his individual performances in Canarias, Corscia and Hungary. They also won the end-of-season Cyprus Golden Stage Rally.
click: ircseries.com/news=3325 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=3325)
.:cool: