Famed Midlands racecar driver to receive coveted award
Nicole is Ireland's most successful female racecar driver
2025 was another year of success for Roscrea’s Nicole Drought, Ireland’s leading female race driver, who enjoyed five wins in three different countries.
Daughter of Roscrea mechanic and well known racer, Owain Drought, Nicole is a past pupil of Coláiste Phobal in Roscrea.
She took pole positions and outright wins on the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit and in Snetterton in Norfolk.
Incredibly, she broke three lap records, including one at Silverstone. Nicole also crossed the Atlantic to West Virginia in June to make her American race debut.
Despite never having driven the car or the famous Summit Point Circuit, she took three podium finishes over the weekend and proudly held the tricolour aloft on the podium.
She also completed a “home” race at Bishopscourt in Northern Ireland, driving a borrowed Stryker sportscar. The unfamiliar car again proved no obstacle, as she won the race.
In the course of the year she also finished in pole position and set a new lap record at the Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire, and also enjoyed a win at the Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire.
Towards the end of the year she was announced as the recipient of the Rosemary Smith Award at the Motorsport Ireland Champions of Irish Motorsport Awards.
She will also receive an Annerville award, sponsored by Bulmers, when the awards are presented by the Tipperary United Sports Panel at their annual function at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel on Saturday night, January 10.
Tickets for the event are available from Sports Panel treasurer Ken Conway, email [email protected]