Billy Coleman


Billy Coleman is an Irish motorsport rally driver. Nicknamed Milstreet Maestro, Billy Coleman is Ireland's most successful motorsport rally driver—in twenty years of racing he has claimed 29 victories, and won British Rally Championship and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship titles.

History

Billy Coleman, a farmer native to Millstreet, Co. Cork still resides there today. He has developed an interest in cars from an early age, reminiscing how his father let him steer the car sitting on his knee at the age of five. His father Paddy Coleman was the Ford Main Dealer and owned a motor garage in Milstreet. Spending time at his father's garage further nurtured Billy's early interest in cars. Billy studied commerce in University College Cork, but preferred farming as his occupation, and undertook it full time after finishing up his racing career. His first racing car was Ford Cortina which Billy drove in 1967. In 1969 a crashed Ford Escort was acquired, repaired and converted into a rally car. In this car he's got everyone's attention the first time in 1969. Billy won the special stage in this tatty looking self-prepared green Ford Escort Mark I ahead of the works Ford Escort of Roger Clark. Billy became famous in for his rallying skills all over Ireland as well as Britain, dominating the rallies in the 70s and 80s. He has also been seen in international arena, as far as Corsica and Monte Carlo. In his racing career Billy Coleman drove Ford Cortina, Ford Escort, Alpine-Renault, Lancia Stratos, Fiat-Abarth 131, Opel Manta 400, Porsche 911, Porsche 959, MG Metro 6R4 and BMW M3. Billy's two sons Robby Coleman and Gordon Coleman are also taking part in Irish and British racing events, with full their father's support.

Legacy

RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award

In 2006 Billy Coleman was awarded RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award for his outstanding achievements in rallying.

DVD

Billy Coleman holds the icon status in Irish racing, he features in Tarmac Titans DVD series on rally legends.

Billy Coleman young driver of the year award

The Billy Coleman Award was conceived in 2000 by partnership of Motorsport Ireland, Sport Ireland and Team Ireland. The aim of the award is to motivate young Irish rally drivers to step up into the international arena and rival the achievements of the young Billy Coleman.

Influence on John Campion

Irish-American billionaire, philanthropist, life-long motorsports supporter John Campion attributes much of his motivation to succeed to Billy Coleman's incredible achievements as a rally driver. John supported the launch of the Team Ireland Foundation in Dublin in 2016, where in his speech he said:
As a young boy in Cork I found myself struggling with school and at a loss as to what I would do with my life. But I always felt a bond with motorsport after witnessing Billy Coleman, a farmer who became a world rallying icon, competing near my home in Cork. After seeing Billy rallying I realised then that if you put your mind to it, you could achieve anything.

John Campion emigrated to United States with $25 in his pocket to become the chairman and the CEO of an international energy corporation, and a philanthropist focusing on health, education and nutrition as well as sponsor of racing drivers through the his motorsports organization CJJ Motorsports. In his possession John has a collection of Lancia rally cars, inspired by Lancia Stratos HF driven by Billy Coleman in 1978.

Racing record

Between his active racing years 1968 to 1987 Billy Coleman started in 128 national and international rally events and claimed 29 victories.
SeasonSeriesCarRacesRace WinsTitle Win
1969British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort Mk I10
1970National Rally ChampionshipFord Escort Mk I11
1970British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort Mk I10
1971National Rally ChampionshipFord Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110		11
1971British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110		30
1971European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110		20
1971International Championship for ManufacturersFord Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110		20
1972National Rally ChampionshipFord Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110		21
1972British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110		30
1972International Championship for ManufacturersFord Escort Mk I
Alpine-Renault A110		20
1973British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI10
1973European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI10
1973World Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI10
1974British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI61
1974European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI40
1974World Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI10
1975British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI
Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII		103
1975European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI
Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII		61
1975World Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1600 MKI
Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII		10
1976National Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Lancia Stratos HF		11
1976British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Lancia Stratos HF		101
1976European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Lancia Stratos HF		52
1976World Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Lancia Stratos HF		10
1977British Rally ChampionshipLancia Stratos HF
Fiat 131 Abarth		70
1977European Rally ChampionshipLancia Stratos HF
Fiat 131 Abarth		80
1977World Rally ChampionshipLancia Stratos HF
Fiat 131 Abarth		10
1978British Rally ChampionshipLancia Stratos HF
Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII		10
1978European Rally ChampionshipLancia Stratos HF
Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII		50
1978World Rally ChampionshipLancia Stratos HF
Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII		10
1979Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Porsche Carrera RS		21
1979British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Porsche Carrera RS		20
1979European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Porsche Carrera RS		71
1979World Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Porsche Carrera RS		10
1980Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII20
1980British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII10
1980European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII30
1981Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII10
1981European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII10
1982Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400		20
1982National Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400		10
1982British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400		10
1982European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400		10
1983Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400		21
1983British Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400		10
1983European Rally ChampionshipFord Escort RS 1800 MKII
Opel Ascona 400		10
1984Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipOpel Manta 40064
1984National Rally ChampionshipOpel Manta 40011
1984British Rally ChampionshipOpel Manta 40021
1984European Rally ChampionshipOpel Manta 40010
1985Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipPorsche 911 SC RS
Ford Escort G3		42
1985British Rally ChampionshipPorsche 911 SC RS
Ford Escort G3		10
1985European Rally ChampionshipPorsche 911 SC RS
Ford Escort G3		10
1985World Rally ChampionshipPorsche 911 SC RS
Ford Escort G3		10
1986Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipPorsche 911 SC RS
MG Metro 6R4		53
1986British Rally ChampionshipPorsche 911 SC RS
MG Metro 6R4		20
1986European Rally ChampionshipPorsche 911 SC RS
MG Metro 6R4		20
1987Irish Tarmac Rally ChampionshipBMW M3 E3020
1987British Rally ChampionshipBMW M3 E3010
1987European Rally ChampionshipBMW M3 E3010