Billy Coleman
{{short description|Irish rally driver (born 1947)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox WRC driver
| name = Billy Coleman
| image=
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|05|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Millstreet, Cork, Ireland
| birth_name = Rauno August Aaltonen
| nationality = {{flagicon|IRE}} Irish
| Co-driver = {{flagicon|IRE}} Dan O'Sullivan
{{flagicon|GBR}} Jim Porter
{{flagicon|GBR}} Martin Holmes
{{flagicon|IRE}} Ronan Morgan
| Teams = Thomas Motors of Blackpool
The Chequered Flag
David Sutton Cars Ltd
Porsche
| Races = 8
| Championships =
| Wins = 0
| Podiums = 0
| Stagewins = 0
| Points = 10
| First race = 1973 RAC Rally
| Last race = 1985 Tour de Corse
{{Infobox racing driver | embed=yes
| last series = British Rally Championship
| years active = 1968–1987
| car number =
| former teams =
| best finish = Winner
| year = 1974
| starts = 53
| wins = 6
| podiums = 14
| career template2 =
}}
{{Infobox racing driver | embed=yes
| last series = Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
| years active = 1979–1987
| car number =
| former teams =
| best finish = Winner
| year = 1984
| starts = 26
| wins = 11
| podiums = 13
| career template2 =
}}
{{Infobox racing driver | embed=yes
| last series = National Rally Championship
| years active = 1970–1984
| car number =
| former teams =
| best finish =
| year =
| starts = 8
| wins = 5
| podiums = 5
| career template2 =
}}
| poles =
| fastest laps =
| best finish =
| year =
| prev series =
| prev series years =
| titles = {{Color box|yellow|Winner}} 1974 British Rally Championship
{{Color box|yellow|Winner}} 1984 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
| title years =
| awards =
| award years =
}}
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{{cite news |title=The boy from Millstreet who became the king of rally |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20446858.html |access-date=3 June 2024 |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=15 April 2017}} and in twenty years of racing has claimed 29 victories,{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} including a number of British Rally Championship and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship titles.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/11957-billy-coleman/ |title=Billy Coleman - rally profile |website=Ewrc-results.com |date= |access-date=2019-11-18}} He is the older brother of John Coleman who was a Gaelic footballer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/county/cork/article/index/78846|title=Coleman, John - HoganStand|website=Hoganstand.com|access-date=8 February 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXeYoHyELg4|title=1974 Circuit of Ireland Rally|date=11 April 2020 |access-date=8 February 2022|via=YouTube}}{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjnuO8a7M5A | title=Billy Coleman interview | website=YouTube | date=25 May 2022 }}
Life and career
Billy Coleman is a farmer native to Millstreet, County Cork, where he still resides.{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Odile |title=Third Gear: Billy Coleman reflects on 20 years of rallying |url=https://www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/third-gear-billy-coleman-reflects-on-20-years-of-rallying-564318 |access-date=3 June 2024 |publisher=IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL |date=16 August 2020}} He developed an interest in cars from an early age,{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} reminiscing how his father let him steer the car sitting on his knee at the age of five.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} 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|date=April 2023}} Coleman studied commerce at University College Cork, but preferred farming as his occupation, and undertook it full time after finishing up his racing career.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-2005/78/emerald-idol |title=Emerald idol | Motor Sport Magazine Archive |website=Motorsportmagazine.com |date= 7 July 2014|access-date=2019-11-18}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://homepage.eircom.net/~billycoleman/ |title=The Billy Coleman web page |website=Homepage.eircom.net |date= |access-date=2019-11-18}} Coleman dominated the rallies in Ireland and Britain the 1970s and 1980s.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} He has also been seen in international arena, including in Corsica and Monte Carlo.{{cite web|author=michaeld |url=http://www.millstreet.ie/blog/2010/03/10/billy-coleman-tarmac-titan-dvd#more-7642 |title=Billy Coleman – Tarmac Titan DVD – |website=Millstreet.ie |date=2010-03-10 |access-date=2019-11-18}} 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. Coleman's two sons, Robby Coleman and Gordon Coleman, also take part in Irish and British racing events.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/corkman/sport/other-sports/billy-coleman-27064801.html|title=Billy Coleman|website=Independent.ie|access-date=8 February 2022}}
Legacy
= RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award =
In 2006, Coleman was awarded RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award for his achievements in rallying.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2006/1217/212456-shefflinh/|title=Shefflin named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year |website=Rte.ie|date=2007-06-14 |access-date=2019-11-19}}
= DVD =
Coleman features in the Tarmac Titans DVD series on rally legends.{{cite web |url=https://www.rpm-motorsport.com/shop/product.php?s=billy-coleman |title=Billy Coleman - Shop - RPM Motorsport - Irish Rallying DVDs for sale by Ireland's #1 Motorsport TV Programme |publisher=RPM Motorsport |date= |access-date=2019-11-18 |archive-date=2019-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029232750/http://www.rpm-motorsport.com/shop/product.php?s=billy-coleman |url-status=dead }}
= Young driver of the year award =
The Billy Coleman Young Driver of the Year Award was conceived in 2000 in a partnership between 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".{{cite web |author=Motorsport Ireland |url=http://www.motorsportireland.com/news/Billy-Coleman-Award.aspx |title=Overseas News |publisher=Motorsport Ireland |date= |access-date=2019-11-18 |archive-date=2019-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112085752/http://www.motorsportireland.com/news/billy-coleman-award.aspx |url-status=dead }}
= Influence =
Irish-American billionaire, philanthropist, life-long motorsports supporter John Campion attributed much of his motivation to succeed to Billy Coleman's achievements as a rally driver.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} Campion 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.{{cite web|url=https://motorsport.ie/2016/02/17/motorsport-ireland-launch-team-ireland-foundation-at-the-mansion-house/|title=Motorsport Ireland Launch Team Ireland Foundation at the Mansion House |website=Motorsport.ie |date=2016-02-17 |access-date=2019-11-19}}
John Campion emigrated to United States where he become the chairman and CEO of an international energy corporation, and a philanthropist focusing on health, education and nutrition{{cite web|url=http://johnjcampion.com/ |title=Home Page |publisher=John and Suzanne Campion Foundation |date= |access-date=2019-11-19}} as well as sponsor of racing drivers through his motorsports organization CJJ Motorsports.{{cite web|url=http://johnjcampion.com/#news |title=News |publisher=John and Suzanne Campion Foundation |date= |access-date=2019-11-19}}{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/motor-sport/ambitious-breen-aims-to-boost-quest-for-return-to-world-stage-with-easter-stages-rally-success-38026768.html |title=Ambitious Breen aims to boost quest for return to World stage with Easter Stages Rally success |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=2019-04-18 |access-date=2019-11-19}} In his possession Campion had a collection of Lancia rally cars, inspired by Lancia Stratos HF driven by Billy Coleman in 1978.{{cite web|url=https://petrolicious.com/articles/john-campion-s-lifelong-obsession-with-group-b-rally-has-shaped-a-world-class-collection |title=MotoJohn Campion's Lifelong Obsession With Group B Rally Has Shaped A World Class Collection |website=Petrolicious.com |date=2016-04-05 |access-date=2019-11-19}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/samabuelsamid/2016/08/01/rally-cars-and-ford-gts-invade-the-2016-concours-delegance-of-america/#33570863fdeb |title=Rally Cars And Ford GTs Invade The 2016 Concours d'Elegance Of America |work=Forbes Media |date=2016-08-01 |access-date=2019-11-19}}
Racing record
Between his active racing years 1968 to 1987, Billy Coleman started in 128 national and international rally events and claimed 29 victories.{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/11957-billy-coleman/|title=Billy Coleman |website=eWRC-results.com |date= |access-date=2019-11-18}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center" |
| Season
! Series ! Car ! Races ! Race Wins ! Title Win |
|---|
| 1969
|align=left| British Rally Championship |align=left| Ford Escort Mk I | 1 | 0 | |
| rowspan="2"|1970
|style="text-align:left;"| National Rally Championship |rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort Mk I |1 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="4"|1971
|style="text-align:left;"| National Rally Championship |rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort Mk I |1 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|3 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|2 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| International Championship for Manufacturers
|2 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1972
|style="text-align:left;"| National Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort Mk I |2 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|3 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| International Championship for Manufacturers
|2 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1973
|style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI |1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| World Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1974
|style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI |6 |1 | {{Color box|yellow|Winner}} |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|4 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| World Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1975
|style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI |10 |3 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|6 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| World Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="4"|1976
|style="text-align:left;"| National Rally Championship |rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII |1 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|10 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|5 |2 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| World Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1977
|style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Lancia Stratos HF |7 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|8 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| World Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1978
|style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Lancia Stratos HF |1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|5 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| World Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="4"|1979
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII |2 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|2 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|7 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| World Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1980
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII |2 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|3 |0 | |
| rowspan="2"|1981
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII |1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="4"|1982
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII |2 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| National Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1983
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII |2 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="4"|1984
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| Opel Manta 400 |6 |4 |{{Color box|yellow|Winner}} |
| style="text-align:left;"| National Rally Championship
|1 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|2 |1 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="4"|1985
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| Porsche 911 SC RS |4 |2 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| World Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1986
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| Porsche 911 SC RS |5 |3 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|2 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|2 |0 | |
| rowspan="3"|1987
|style="text-align:left;"| Irish Tarmac Rally Championship |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| BMW M3 E30 |2 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| British Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Rally Championship
|1 |0 | |
=Complete IMC results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;" |
| Year
! Entrant ! Car ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 |
|---|
| rowspan=2| 1971
!rowspan=2| Billy Coleman | MON |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SWE | ITA | KEN | MAR | AUT | GRE | | |
| Alpine-Renault A110 1600
| | | | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GBR | |
| 1972
! Billy Coleman | MON |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SWE | KEN | MAR | GRE | AUT | ITA | USA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GBR |
=Complete WRC results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;" |
| Year
! Entrant ! Car ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! {{Tooltip|WDC|Championship position}} ! Pts |
|---|
| 1973
! Billy Coleman | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | MOR | GRE | POL | FIN | AUT | ITA | USA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| GBR | FRA ! N/A ! N/A |
| 1974
! Thomas Motors of Blackpool | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | GRE | FIN | ITA | CAN | USA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| GBR | FRA | | ! N/A ! N/A |
| 1975
! Thomas Motors of Blackpool | MON | SWE | KEN | GRE | MOR | POR | FIN | ITA | FRA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| GBR | | | ! N/A ! N/A |
| 1976
! Thomas Motors of Blackpool | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | GRC | MOR | FIN | ITA | FRA | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| GBR | | | ! N/A ! N/A |
| 1977
! The Chequered Flag | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | NZL | GRC | FIN | CAN | ITA | FRA |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GBR | | ! N/A ! N/A |
| 1978
! David Sutton Cars Ltd | MON | SWE | KEN | POR |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| GRE | FIN | CAN | ITA | CIV | FRA | GBR | | ! N/A ! N/A |
| 1979
! Billy Coleman |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MON | SWE | POR | KEN | GRE | NZL | FIN | CAN | ITA | FRA | GBR | CIV | ! NC ! 0 |
| 1985
| MON | SWE | POR | KEN |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FRA | GRC | NZL | ARG | FIN | ITA | CIV | GBR | ! 22nd ! 10 |