Motorsport: Keith Cronin claims podium spot at Grampian Rally

Championship leader William Creighton endured a tough outing but finished fourth.

Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2) finished third overall on the Grampian Rally in Scotland, round four of the British Rally Championship. Picture? James Ward/Chicane Media.

Having failed to get into a good rhythm through the opening stages, Ballylickey’s Keith Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Mikey Galvin went on to secure the final podium spot on the Grampian Rally in Scotland. The event, round four of the British Rally Championship, was won by Manchester’s Chris Ingram (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), who finished nine seconds ahead of the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Welsh driver Osian Pryce with Cronin, also in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, a further 19.7s behind in third.

It was a difficult event for championship leader William Creighton, the Moira driver led initially only to suffer puncture on the second stage and while he posted four fastest stage times on the event, as spin and another puncture dropped him off the pace before he eventually finished fourth - a position just enough to retain top spot in the six round series.

Fresh from his WRC2 exploits Creighton was into the groove on Friday evening opening stage eking out an 0.7s advantage over Pryce, who was adapting a new style of driving suited to his Ford Fiesta Rally2. Ingram was a further 3.8s in arrears over the 11.1km stage where Cronin admitted he wasn’t comfortable in his Ford Fiesta Rally2 and was 10.5s behind Creighton, who punctured on SS2 and dropped to fifth as Pryce led overnight - 4s ahead of Ingram with Cronin, who had a much better pace on SS2 occupying third. Creighton was fifth overnight 26.1s off top spot.

However, a pair of fastest times on the opening pair of stages of the final leg saw him slot into third - edging out Cronin by 4.3s as Pryce continued to lead Ingram by 1.9s.

There was a dramatic change through SS5 where Ingram set his only fastest time of the event to move into a 24s lead over Pryce, who spun and lost almost half a minute. Creighton also endured a spin that relegated him to fifth as Cronin, second quickest on the stage, slotted into second - 24s behind Ingram. Pryce was back in second spot a stage later as Creighton suffered a second puncture, he was best through SS7. Although Pryce dominated the final pair of stages Ingram went on to claim his second victory of the session. Cronin regained third on SS7 and when James Williams retired his Hyundai i20 Rally2 on the penultimate stage Creighton snatched fourth, seemingly enough to retain his championship lead albeit by a solitary point from Ingram.

Meanwhile, there was a close finish to the J&M Breen Distributors Jim Walsh Memorial Cork Forest Rally in north Cork, round three of the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship at was won by the Ulster crew of Jason Mitchell/James McCrudden (VW Polo GTi R5). The lead changed four times during the opening four stages of the eight-stage encounter in the Ballyhoura forest. Gareth Mimnagh (Ford Fiesta R5) led initially only to clatter a chicane bale on the second stage and retire with Vivian Hamill (VW Polo GTi R5), who stalled at the start line, taking over at the top - a mere 1s ahead of Niall McGonigle. Pre-event series leader Jordan Hone retired his Ford Fiesta R5 on the same stage. McGonigle was quickest on SS3 to open up a 5.7s advantage over Mitchell, who admitted he made a few errors. Defending national forest champion Ryan Caldwell (Skoda Fabia R5) dropped out of contention with a puncture. On SS4 (Coolfree) a repeat of SS2, Mitchell, even though he clipped a chicane, netted the best stage time to become the fourth leader in as many stages, however, the top four were covered by a 7.1s blanket. Even though he had some power steering trouble near the end of SS4, a consistent Mackarel moved into second 4.4s behind Mitchell followed by McGonigle and Hamill.

McGonigle moved to within 2.8s of Mitchell on SS 5 with Mackarel a fraction of a second behind. Several of the top drivers beat the bogey on SS6. The top three remained unchanged through the final pair of stages.

Grampian Rally (Round 4, British Rally Championship) Banchory, Scotland: 1. C. Ingram/A. Kihurani (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 51m. 43.6s; 2. O. Pryce/R. Evans (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+9s; 3. K. Cronin/M. Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+28.7s; 4. W. Creighton/L. Regan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+48.0s; 5. J. Greer/N. Burns (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 43.5s; 6. M. Evans/J. Jackson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+1m. 46.8s; 7. G. Pearson/D. Barritt (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 01.8s; 8. M. McRae/C. Fair (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 27.4s; 9. E.

Thorburn/K. Beaton (VW Polo GTi R5)+2m. 36.7s; 10. S. Beattie/P/ Davies (Ford Fiesta R5)+3m. 02.9s.

J&M Breen Distributors Jim Walsh Memorial Cork Forest Rally (Round 3, Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship) Ballyguyroe North: 1. J. Mitchell/P. McCrudden (VW Polo GTi R5) 45m. 11.4s; 2. McGonigle/C. McKenna (Ford Fiesta R5)+10.4s; 3. D. Mackarel/E. Creedon (Ford Fiesta R5)+22.0s; 4. V. Hamill/A. Greenan (VW Polo GTi R5)+48.0s; 5. P. O Connell/M. Wiley (Ford Fiesta R5)+1m. 04.4s;

6. R. Caldwell/S. O’Brien (Skoda Fabia R5)+1m. 24.6s; 7. D. Condell/M. Coady (Ford Fiesta R5)+1m. 43.4s; 8. D. Crossen/B. Teggart (Ford Escort)3m. 47.7s; 9. I. Dickson/M. Brady (Ford Fiesta R5)+3m. 49.4s; 10. S. McGirr/D. Rafferty (Lada Riva)+3m. 52.3s.