by Martin Walsh – Irish Examiner – 1st June 1999
Neil Shanahan, one of the brightest prospects in Irish motor sport, was tragically killed in Oulton Park, Cheshire in England yesterday, whilst competing in the fifth round of the Slick 50 Formula Ford Zetec Championship.
The 19-year-old was involved in a three-car collision on the second lap at Clay Hill corner and died as he was being airlifted to hospital.
Neil Shanahan began his motor sport exploits in Junior Karting in 1993, three years later, he finished runner-up to Michael Keohane in the Formula Karting Championship. He was also second overall in the Southern Karting Club Championship and third overall in the Irish Karting Club Championship. The same year, 1996, he was awarded the Philips Trophy by the Royal Irish Automobile Club for the most improved Driver of the Year. Neil made an immediate impact in his move into single seater racing the following year and won the DHL Star of Tomorrow Formula Ford 1600cc Championship. The Churchtown teenager won a total of ten races en route to success. He was also a winner at the Phoenix Park Races in the same category and was the dominant force in the Ford Zetec Championship in 1997.
