Motorsport: Creighton set for Probite British Rally Championship tilt

The Moira driver is the latest high-profile name to join the rejuvenated series.

William Creighton to tackle this season's Probite British Rally Championship. Picture: M-Sport.

Motorsport Ireland Academy driver William Creighton (26) will supplement his WRC2 bid with an attack on the Probite British Rally Championship onboard an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2. 

The Moira driver, who won the BRC Junior title in 2021, is the latest high-profile name to join the list of contenders for a series that has experienced a new lease of life.

With four-time champion Ballylickey’s Keith Cronin returning to try and win a record-equalling five titles and former European Rally Champion Chris Ingram both committed to title bids and the presence of former British champion Osian Pryce (Fiesta Rally2) on the opening round in Lancashire in two weeks, Creighton will certainly be amongst elite company.

He won’t have to that long to wait to face Cronin as the pair are both contesting next week’s Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally. Indeed, West Cork will mark Creighton’s first competitive tarmac outing in his Malcolm Wilson prepared Ford Fiesta Rally2, that along with the BRC opener the following week, will provide key preparation for his outing in Rally Croatia, his second outing of his WRC2 campaign. 

“I’m very excited to be returning to the British Rally Championship, it's looking like a really competitive season and the perfect place to get solid experience of the Fiesta in a competitive environment.” 

For the BRC series Creighton’s M-Sport teammates are Max McRae (the grandson of Jimmy McRae, who has won an unprecedented British five titles) and Garry Pearson. Creighton concluded, “The BRC ticks a lot of boxes for us this year, with recce, good events and both asphalt and gravel rounds, it made perfect sense to do it.” 

Meanwhile, MI Academy driver Josh McErlean is to tackle seven rounds of the WRC2 in a Skoda Rally RS Rally2 run by Toksport World Rally Team. Co-driven by James Fulton, McErlean begins his third season in the WRC and will start his campaign on the Vodafone Rally Portugal in May.

Elsewhere, tomorrow’s second round of the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship will use the Bishopscourt race circuit for the Race and Rally Stages where series leader and last year’s winner Jonny Greer (Citroen C3 Rally2) headlines the entry. Fellow Citroen ace Derry’s Desi Henry, multi NI champion Derek McGarrity (Skoda Fabia R5) and Donegal’s Aaron McLaughlin (Ford Fiesta R5) complete the top quartet. Clonakilty’s Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Kevin Kelleher (Ford Fiesta R5) are using the six-stage event as preparation for their home event the following week.

William Creighton/Liam Regan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) to compete in this season's Probite British Rally Championship. Picture: M-Sport.

Tyrone’ s Vivian Hamill and Waterford’s Andrew Purcell, both in VW Polo GTi R5’s will compete in the weekend’s Malcolm Wilson Rally in Cumbria, meanwhile, where British driver Elliott Payne (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is the top seed.

Four crews remain in contention for the MI National Navigation Trial Championship that will be decided on the Ballinode based Monaghan Navigation Trial on Saturday night. The Monaghan/Limerick pairing of Andy Mackarel/Greg Shinnors (with 88points) lead the way four points ahead of the Cork duo of James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody. Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston (83points) and Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (80points) are the other contenders. the distribution of championship will be key and adds further intrigue. The 85-mile event begins at 9.01pm.

The top 10 for next weekend’s Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally is: 1. Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Citroen C3 Rally2); Callum Devine/Noel O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTi R5); Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2); Matt Edwards/Dave Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 5. William Creighton/Liam Regan (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 6. Johnny Greer/Niall Burns (Citroen C3 Rally2); 7. Ryan Loughran/Gareth Doherty (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 8. David Kelly/Dean O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTi R5); 9. James Ford/Neil Shanks (Citroen C3 Rally2); 10. Declan Boyle/Patrick Walsh (Citroen C3 Rally2).