Andrew Nesbitt

Andrew Nesbitt (born 2 September 1960) is a former rally driver and businessman from Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. He won two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships (2000 and 2002) and won the Donegal International Rally six times (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2006). His co-driver was James O'Brien from County Cork. of which he has used many different variants. His two Tarmac Championships were won in a Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99 (2000 championship) and a Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00 (2002 championship), with "Cuisine de France" livery. He has also taken wins in other variants, like his 2005 Rally of the Lakes win in an S9 WRC '03. He has also taken wins in other cars, such as his 1998 Donegal International Rally win in a Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD or his 2006 Donegal Win in a Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 05.

Rallying style

Nesbitt himself stated that he "drives it to the absolute maximum" on every rally stage he does. One notable performance was in Donegal in 1999; after going off on stage one and losing three minutes to drop to 114th, Nesbitt pushed hard to finish fourth. Early in his career he had some large crashes, such as when his car went through a hedge at 120 miles per hour and spun through the air in the 1997 Ulster Rally. This maximum-attack style of driving has led to some memorable moments with co-driver James O'Brien, with O'Brien telling Nesbitt to slow down in some rallies. Fellow competitors like Eugene Donnelly have complimented his rallying skill and consistency.

Irish Tarmac Championship victories

Irish Tarmac Rally Championship wins:

· 2006 Donegal International Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Mitsubishi Lancer WRC '05) · 2005 Rally of the Lakes - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03) · 2004 Jim Clark Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03) · 2003 Jim Clark Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01) · 2003 Donegal International Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01) · 2002 - Cork 20 Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00) · 2002 - Ulster Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00) · 2002 - Manx International Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00) · 2002 - Jim Clark Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00) · 2002 - Donegal International Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00) · 2002 - Rally of the Lakes - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00) · 2002 - Circuit of Ireland - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00) · 2000 - Cork 20 Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99) · 2000 - Manx Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99) · 2000 - Donegal International Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99) · 2000 - Fisher Engineering Summit Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99) · 1998 - Donegal International Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)) · 1996 - Donegal International Rally - Nesbitt, Millar (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185))

Overall, Nesbitt has taken 18 Tarmac Championship victories; 17 with co-driver James O'Brien and 1 with co-driver George Millar.

Other Irish Tarmac Championship podiums

Other Irish Tarmac Championship podiums (2nd and 3rd place finishes):

· 2005 Circuit of Ireland - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03): 2nd place · 2003 Circuit of Ireland - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01): 2nd place · 1999 Cork 20 Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '98): 2nd place · 1999 Donegal International Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza 555): 3rd place · 1999 Circuit of Ireland - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Subaru Impreza 555): 2nd place · 1998 Rally of the Lakes - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)): 3rd place · 1998 Circuit of Ireland - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)): 3rd place · 1998 Galway International Rally - Nesbitt, O'Brien (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)): 3rd place · 1997 Ulster Rally - Nesbitt, Kennedy (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)): 3rd place · 1996 Circuit of Ireland - Nesbitt, Millar (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)): 2nd place