Billy Coleman
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IrishMillstreet, Cork, Ireland
Dan O'Sullivan
Jim Porter Martin Holmes Ronan Morgan| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Irish |
| Born | 8 May 1947 Millstreet, Cork, Ireland |
| Active years | 1973–1979, 1985 |
| Co-driver | Dan O'Sullivan Jim Porter Martin Holmes Ronan Morgan |
| Teams | Thomas Motors of Blackpool The Chequered Flag David Sutton Cars Ltd Porsche |
| Rallies | 8 |
| Rally wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Stage wins | 0 |
| Total points | 10 |
| First rally | 1973 RAC Rally |
| Last rally | 1985 Tour de Corse |
| British Rally Championship | |
| Years active | 1968–1987 |
| Starts | 53 |
| Wins | 6 |
| Podiums | 14 |
| Best finish | Winner in 1974 |
| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship | |
| Years active | 1979–1987 |
| Starts | 26 |
| Wins | 11 |
| Podiums | 13 |
| Best finish | Winner in 1984 |
| National Rally Championship | |
| Years active | 1970–1984 |
| Starts | 8 |
| Wins | 5 |
| Podiums | 5 |
Billy Coleman (born 8 May 1947) is an Irish motorsport rally driver. Nicknamed Millstreet Maestro, Billy Coleman is one of Ireland's most successful motorsport rally drivers[1] and in twenty years of racing has claimed 29 victories,[citation needed] including a number of British Rally Championship and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship titles.[2] He is the older brother of John Coleman who was a Gaelic footballer.[3][4][5]
Billy Coleman is a farmer outside of Kanturk and native to Millstreet, County Cork, where he still resides.[6] He developed an interest in cars from an early age,[citation needed] reminiscing how his father let him steer the car sitting on his knee at the age of five.[citation needed] His father Paddy Coleman was the local Ford main dealer and owned a motor garage in Millstreet. Spending time at his father's garage further nurtured Coleman's early interest in cars.[citation needed] Coleman studied commerce at University College Cork, but preferred farming as his occupation, and undertook it full time after finishing up his racing career.[7] His first racing car was Ford Cortina which Coleman drove in 1967. In 1969, a crashed Ford Escort was acquired, repaired and converted into a rally car. It was in this car (a self-prepared green Ford Escort Mark I; TIU 250) in 1969, that Coleman won the special stage ahead of the works Ford Escort of Roger Clark.[8] Coleman dominated the rallies in Ireland and Britain the 1970s and 1980s.[citation needed] He has also been seen in international arena, including in Corsica and Monte Carlo.[9] In his racing career, 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.[7] Coleman's two sons, Robby Coleman and Gordon Coleman, also take part in Irish and British racing events.[10]