Irish Duo Ready For FIA Rally Star Continental Final
24-year-old Conor Shaw from Co. Derry and 18-year-old Oisín Hussey from Co. Meath will represent Motorsport Ireland at this weekend's FIA Rally Star Continental Final in Germany. They will join over 80 aspiring world champions representing 17 countries who will battle for a place on the FIA Rally Star Team at the final which will be held at Estering, just outside Hamburg.
Conor and Oisín along with Europe's top talents will get behind the wheel of Lifelive TN5 Cross Cars fitted with Pirelli's historic rally tyres to ensure rally-level grip and performance! FIA Rally Star is a global talent detection programme organised by the FIA and its clubs and is open to all young people between 17 and 26 years old. One driver per continent will be selected to join the FIA Rally Star team. The drivers selected for the Continental Finals will benefit from a full season of training: driving coaching, physical and mental training, testing sessions and participation in six rallies at the wheel of a M-Sport Fiesta Rally3. At the end of the 2022 season, you may be one of the four drivers selected to compete in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship. A season to learn, but also to convince, as three drivers will be selected for a second season in JWRC. This time, you will have to aim for the title to win the ultimate prize: a season in WRC2, with a car from the Rally2 category.
Conor and Oisín both got to sample a TN5 Cross Car this week in Mondello Park thanks to the generosity of Peter and Jack Brennan to help them build up their confidence and experience ahead of this weekend's final and both are looking forward to proving themselves on the European stage.
Speaking ahead of the weekend Oisín Hussey said; "It was great to get a test ahead of the final, I've never driven any kind of competition vehicle before and it was really useful experience. Coming from a sim racing background made the step up a little less intimidating."
Conor Shaw said; "I'm hopeful I can give a good account of myself in Germany, obviuosly there'll be huge competition but that just means you have to work hard. I've driven Cross Car/Buggy vehicles before so it was interesting to compare the TN5 Cross Car against them. It's a really well built machine and very enjoyable to drive."
Motorsport Ireland Sporting Executive Art McCarrick attented the test with Conor and Oisín and will also travel with them to Germany. He was impressed by what he saw; "Rally Star provides a tremendous opportunity for aspiring rally talents, regardless of their background. Irish motorsport talent is viewed in high regard across the globe and from what I saw at the test we have found a pair of very capable drivers who will be extremely competitive in the Continential Final."
To follow the finals at the weekend follow FIA Rally Star on Facebook.