Ypres win rekindles Cronin title challenge

Triple British rally champion Keith Cronin from Ballylickey, with co-driver Killarney’s Mikie Galvin, are back into contention for this season’s Prestone MSA British Rally Championship (BRC) as they annexed top points in the Ypres Rally in Belgium, the first overseas round in the 59-year history of the BRC.

The event itself was won by WRC star Kevin Abbring (Peugeot 208 T16) and his Belgian co-driver Pieter Tsjoen.

Cronin led the BRC contingent from the opening stage on Friday. His M-Sport-run DMACK-backed Fiesta R5 also benefited from the Evo2 upgrade, and was actually fourth overall against vastly more seasoned Ypres competitors.