Billy Coleman was Irelands most successful rally driver ever. He first came to province in 1969 in rather tatty self-prepared green Mark I Escort (TIU 250) on the Circuit of Ireland when he took special stage time off the works Escort of Rodger Clark which was almost unheard of at the time. Billy was born in 1948 in Millstreet. From an early age he developed an interest in motor cars, confessing for the bug when he sat up on his fathers knee to drive the car when he was five years old. His father owned a garage in Milstreet and was the Ford Main Dealer which helped nurture Billy’s interest in cars.
Billy is famous in rallying circles all over Ireland for his exploits in the 70s and 80s, in Ireland, Britain, and even as far away as Poland, Corsica and Monte Carlo.
A DVD on Billy’s exploits in the Irish Tarmac Championship is available to buy from Murray Motorsport amongst others.
Also added below are loads photos of the cars that he drove.
There is also a great website with loads of info all about Billy’s racing career.
HAVE IT PLAYED TO DEATH, HA, GOOD SHOW!!
Many the happy moments I had watching Billy over the years. In my judgement he was and still is Irelands best Rally driver. A class act well done Billy .
look at youtube road test of a cortina lotus in florida. the test goes on for about 10 minutes and then the driver returns to where he started from to test a mk 1 escort. both cars are owned by a man named campion and on the rear of the escort there is the reg. no. tiu 250
that’s Billy Coleman’s reg. for his ’69 rally escort the owner of the cortina and escort is a john campion. look at cortina lotus one test and escort one test. has campion some connection with billy Coleman or millstreet?