Tipperary's Nicole Drought blazed a trail for women race drivers last year

Tipperary driver Nicole Drought, who has won a 2023 Annerville sports award, had the distinction of becoming the first woman to win a UK EnduroKA race, courtesy of an inspired two-hour final stint for the Pro-AM Racing team, once she took over from team mates Jason Roberts and Will Hillyard in the event at Oulton Park in Cheshire.

Charging up from tenth place in treacherous conditions, Nicole tracked down leader Teddy Wilson before snatching the lead with a brave run down the outside. F4 racer Wilson fought back but was unable to breach Drought’s defence and the pair crossed the line just a few tenths of a second apart after five hours of racing.

The Roscrea driver’s incredible season continued at the famous Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, when she overcame a bout of suspected food poisoning to claim her second EnduroKA success of the year and the third for the Pro-AM team after a gruelling eight-hour event for the team, during which she beat double British Rally champion and Rallycross champion Jonny Milner, and Nick Tandy, a professional British racing driver.

Her fine form also saw her win the Open Clubman Irish Rallycross Championship.

By the end of the year she had competed in seven different series, driving a variety of different cars, and was first past the chequered flag an incredible eleven times.

The Tipperary Sports Stars of the Year will receive their Annerville awards, sponsored by Bulmers, from the Tipperary United Sports Panel at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel on Saturday night, January 27. Some tickets are still available from Sports Panel Treasurer Ken Conway, tel. 087-6784510.