Women in Motorsport Commission and RIAC Announce Recipient of the 2025 Rosemary Smith Trophy
Rosemary Walsh (MI Women in Motorsport Commission), Nicole Drought (Winner of the Rosemary Smith award for 2025), Noelle Horan (MI Women in Motorsport Commission and also the 2025 Winner of the Ivan Webb Award), Nicola Watkins (MI Women in Motorsport Commisison Member) and Vicky Gissane (MI Women in Motorsport Commisison Member)
The Motorsport Ireland Women in Motorsport Commission, in partnership with the Royal Irish Automobile Club (RIAC), is proud to announce Nicole Drought as the 2025 recipient of the Rosemary Smith Trophy, an annual award established to honour the legacy of one of Ireland’s greatest motorsport pioneers.
This year’s winner, Nicole Drought, has demonstrated outstanding versatility and success across multiple motorsport disciplines, including circuit racing, endurance trials, rallying and rallycross. Beginning her motorsport career in 2015, Nicole has competed annually since, rising steadily through the ranks and making history as the first woman to win her class in the Irish Touring Car Championship. Nicole was also one of the nominations for the Dunlop Young Racing Driver Award.
Nicole’s achievements extend across Global GT Lights, Stryker Sportscars, Britcar, the Citroën C1 Challenge and the MSVT Trackday Championship. Nicole is also a multi-time endurance champion and a proven competitor in both national and international events. She has secured championship titles, race wins and consistently strong performances throughout the UK and Ireland.
Further demonstrating her growing international profile, Nicole also competed this year in two eight-hour races with the American Endurance Racing series at Summit Point Circuit in West Virginia. Nicole on receiving the award “ I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be presented with the Rosemary Smith Award for 2025. Rosemary was iconic and an inspiration for all women in Motorsport”
The Motorsport Ireland Women in Motorsport Commission and the RIAC congratulate Nicole Drought on her exceptional achievements and are proud to honour her dedication, talent and continued contribution to Irish motorsport with the 2025 Rosemary Smith Trophy.
About Rosemary Smith
Rosemary Smith was a trailblazer in Irish motorsport and remains the country’s most successful female driver. During the 1960s—an era when very few women competed—her passion, courage and exceptional talent broke boundaries and inspired generations. Over her remarkable career, Smith contested more than 90 rallies across Ireland and Europe, including eight Monte Carlo Rallies, and became the first woman ever to win the Tulip Rally outright. She also tackled some of the world’s toughest endurance events, among them the London to Sydney Rally, the London–Mexico Rally, the Acropolis Rally and Canada’s Shell 4000 Rally.
In 2017, at the age of 79, she made history once again, becoming the oldest person ever to drive a modern Formula 1 car. Her contribution to global motoring heritage was formally recognised in 2022 with her induction into the FIVA Hall of Fame.
Rosemary Smith passed away on 5 December, two years ago this week. Before her death, she entrusted a trophy to the RIAC, expressing her wish that it be awarded within Irish motorsport. The Rosemary Smith Trophy continues to honour that wish each year by recognising excellence, determination and achievement by women competing in the sport today.