Kart Attack!
An eleven-year-old girl from Duleek has become the first-ever female winner of a Motorsport Ireland racing championship title.
Holly Dunnion finished first overall in the Motorsport Ireland Novice Cadet Kart Racing Championship 2019 beating off stiff competition from both boys and girls aged between eight and 13.
The talented racer has competed at tracks all over Ireland including the famous Mondello Park in Kildare and her local track Whiteriver in Collon. Holly got her first kart when she was seven and competed in her first race at a track in Athboy with a local club.
Speaking on the win, Holly who attends Duleek Girl’s National School said that she is thrilled.
“I’m really happy to have won. I felt so proud collecting the top Novice trophy especially after the difficult start to the season.
“I love karting because of the speed but also because of all the friends I’ve made from all over Ireland.”
Three generations of racing fanatics: Grandad Mike, Holly centre and dad Michael Dunnion.
Holly’s family are no strangers to motorsport and she is now the third generation of the family embarking on a racing career. The family fascination with motorsport started with her grandad Mike, a Donegal man who spent the 1970s’, 80s’ and 90s’ competing in rallies throughout Ireland, Wales and the Isle of Man.
While helping her dad at kart races, Holly expressed an interest in racing and that’s where it all started explains Michael.
“My dad is an ex Raleigh driver and I race go-karts as well. She has been around it since she was born. My dad would have rallied around the circuit of Ireland and competed against Billy Coleman and Austin McHale and a lot of famous Irish rally drivers.
“Holly would have come along to my races and expressed an interest and wanted to try her hand at it. She has put so much hard work in, we are super proud. She is looking forward to racing in Leinster Kart Club in Athboy who have been fantastic and so accommodating to new members.”
Holly with soon to be Olympian Nicci Daly.
In August 2018 Holly was attending the Mondello Park 50th Anniversary event with her grandad Mike (who also happened to be in Mondello Park when it first opened its gates back in 1968). As it turned out this was the launch event for Formula Female, an initiative of Nicci Daly and Emma Dempsey to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society and to inspire future female generations to get involved in Motorsport.
Nicci is also on the Irish ladies hockey team that has just qualified for the 2020 Olympics.
Holly was lucky enough to meet and chat with Nicci and Emma during the event and watch them race. Meeting the girls made up Holly’s mind about what she wanted to do and created this drive to get back out on track in her
kart.
The Duleek racing driver in action
Holly, Nicci and Emma all have one thing in common, they grew up around Motorsport. Nicci’s and Emma’s dads are famous Irish racing drivers that competed against each other at Mondello Park during the 1980s. That’s where the Formula Female concept originates from. Its mission is to encourage more females to play a role, both on and off the track and to promote the importance of STEM, the role it plays in motorsport and the career opportunities available through STEM.
From that chance meeting at Mondello Park Holly is now a Brand Ambassador for Formula Female and receives great support and encouragement from her role model Nicci.
Formula Female aims to use the visibility of role models such as Holly to engage, educate and empower girls and women. Holly got her first Motorsport Ireland (MI) kart racing licence at the start of 2019 and competed in her first MI race meeting at Watergrasshill Kart Track in Co. Cork.
Having gotten a taste of success, the kart racing enthusiast has her sights set on her next goal.
“I want to drive my Dad’s KZ Kart as soon as I can reach the pedals. I’d also love to become a rally driver like my grandad Mike.”