Keith Cronin back on happy hunting ground in Scotland

The Ballylickey ace returns this weekend to one of his favourite rounds, the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland.

Fri, 24 May, 2024 - 08:07

Martin Walsh

Motorsport

Even though four-time British Rally champion Keith Cronin (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is 32 points adrift of Chris Ingram (VW Polo GTi R5) the current leader of the Probite backed series, the Ballylickey ace isn’t pressing the panic buttons just yet as he returns this weekend to one of his favourite rounds, the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland.

Struggling with mechanical issues and punctures, the opening two rounds only yielded a haul of ten points for Cronin. However, the points structure of this year’s BRC offers hope with the penultimate round having two full points scoring opportunities and the final round with a co-efficient of 1.5 points.

For now, the Beatson’s Building Supplies Jim Clark event with six stages Friday and eight more Saturday is his focus. He tempers the suggestion that it’s a must-win scenario. “It’s a fairly competitive looking championship this year. It doesn’t look like that anyone is going to win every round. But look, a win would be good.”

Aside from former European rally champion Ingram, the Ford Fiesta Rally2 pair of Welsh ace Osian Pryce and former WRC Junior champion Moira’s William Creighton are very much in the championship frame. Cronin is slow to categorise his opponents. “I will focus on my own drive really. I need to get into a good rhythm and stick with it and hopefully, no punctures this time.”

The reference to punctures also applies to his last outing the Tarmac series. “I have wiped those disappointments, one can’t dwell on things like that for too long.”

Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin have a good record in Scotland. They won in 2022 and were second last year, the fact that many of the stages will be familiar should work in their favour.

Meanwhile, Creighton, runner-up on the opening two rounds, is only four points behind Ingram as he dovetails a BRC calendar with his WRC2 championship programme.

“It’s a really popular event, you can really get stuck into the stages. We have a few tarmac events under our belts now, some of which were in the dark so hopefully we can put that experience to good use at the weekend. Liam (Regan, his co-driver) and myself are focusing on our own pace and constantly striving to improve.”

Welsh driver and former BRC champion Osian Pryce (Ford Fiesta Rally2), who won the previous round, hasn’t always enjoyed good fortune on the Duns-based event while hometown driver Euan Thorburn (VW Polo GTi R5) will be expected to figure prominently.

Fresh from his third place in the Carlow Rally, Welsh driver Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) completes the top six. Donegal’s Ryan McHugh (Fiesta Rally4) makes his maiden outing in the BRC with the experienced Arthur Kierans calling the notes. Friday afternoon’s three stages are repeated in darkness. Saturday's final leg consists of eight stages.

Two other members of the Cronin family are also in action this weekend. Robert returns to the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB series that begins in Snetterton while Colin has his third series of three races in the Ginetta Junior Championship at Donington Park.

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McLaren Racing recently announced that FIA Formula 3 driver Alex Dunne (18) has joined the McLaren Driver Development programme. The Offaly teenager who won the 2022 British F4 Championship, was runner-up in the 2022 Italian F4 Championship and the 2023 GB3 Championship currently competes in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with MP Motorsport. “It’s an honour to join the McLaren Driver Development programme. McLaren provides the perfect environment for me to develop my skillset as I continue my journey in motorsport.”