Lucca Allen has been selected as the first nominee for the 2019 Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year.

The 17 year-old is the son of the chef Rachel Allen, of the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry, Co Cork and is currently leading the South East Asian Formula 4 series with three rounds remaining after a blistering start which saw him claim two wins and seven podium finishes in total from his opening eight 8 races of the season.

Lucca started his racing career in karts in 2011 at the age of eight and progressed through the classes to become Motorsport Ireland National Karting Champion in 2014. He then represented Ireland in the 2015 Karting World Championships at Le Mans. In 2017, he progressed from karts to cars, competing in the British Formula 4 Championship, followed by a second year in that series and selected outings in the South East Asian Formula 4 Championship in 2018. Those promising performances have led to a full assault on that series this year.

Allen holds a narrow points advantage heading into the final rounds of the championship. His immediate goal for 2019 is to become South East Asian Formula 4 Champion and then step up to Formula 3 for 2020. Longer term, Lucca’s is targeting is Formula 1 and becoming the first driver from the Republic of Ireland at that level since Derek Daly. Lucca’s career has been helped by some long term sponsors who have supported him since his time in karting, with Ballymaloe Country Relish, Cully & Sully and Right Price Tiles all helping to get him to his current position.

Lucca is currently in 6th year in Newtown School in Waterford and is very thankful for the support of his family as he balances his studies with racing. Having been selected as the first nominee for the 2019 season, Lucca is now a contender for the prestigious Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Award and the historic Sexton Trophy. This award is presented annually and is supported by Sport Ireland and Motorsport Ireland.