Motorsport: William Creighton looking to carry momentum in Poland

William Creighton/Liam Regan (Citroen C3 Rally2) will contest this weekend's 82nd Rally Poland, round four of the FIA European Rally Championship. Picture: @World / Red Bull Content Pool.

Reigning British Rally champion William Creighton (Citroen C3 Rally2) tackles this weekend's 82nd Rally Poland, round four of the European Rally Championship seeking a strong batch of championship points to close the 33 points deficit to championship pacesetter Finland's Teemu Suninen (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). The Moira driver faces a tough challenge against some of the most experienced competitors and rising stars as the event switches from gravel surface to smooth tarmac.

Reigning ERC champion and top seed Miko Marczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) will be followed by triple European title winner Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and they illustrate the size of Creighton's task in securing a top finish. There's certainly no hiding place as he seeks to carry the speed he showed on some stages on his last ERC outing on Rally di Roma Capitale. 

“With only a short break since Rome, it’s nice to head straight to another tarmac rally. I’ve really enjoyed driving the Citroën C3 this season. We (with co-driver Liam Regan) found a good feeling with the car during the last event, so hopefully we can carry that momentum into Poland.” 

He added, “It’s another new rally for us, so the last couple of weeks have been about gaining an understanding of the event and reviewing stages that have been used in the ERC previously. It’s vital to prepare well when you’re arriving somewhere for the first time.

The stages look to have a uniquely smooth surface, so it will be important to get to grips with that during our pre-event test and find a comfortable feeling from the beginning of the rally.” 

Aside from Marczyk and Kajetanowicz the likes of Italian Andrea Mabellini (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 Integrale), Swede Isak Reiersen and Italian Simone Tempestini, both in Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars will have eyes on victory. Tyrone's Philip Allen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) has never been found wanting in giving the maximum even if at times it doesn't work out.

In the ERC3 category led by Finland's Mille Vatanen, there is plenty of Irish interest with Tipperary's Casey Jay Coleman and Cavan's Craig Rahill, who took an impressive category win last time out. Kalum Graffin and Cian Caldwell are also on the list, all in Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars. Donegal's Kyle McBride (Peugeot 208 Rally4) contests the Junior ERC category. Following tonight's 2.2km Super Special, there are seven stages tomorrow and Sunday.

On the home front, tomorrow's Carryduff Forklift Rallye Lecale in Downpatrick, County Down is the latest instalment of the Brown and Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

Title protagonists Carryduff's Jonny Greer (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Monaghan's Sam Moffett (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) are the top two seeds with the former holding a four point advantage. Without the shackles of championship points Welsh ace Hugh Hunter (Ford Fiesta Rally2), Fivemiletown's Cathan McCourt (Skoda Fabia Rally2) and Strabane's Niall McGonigle (VW Polo GTi R5) will be expected to go for victory over the day's six stages. Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) travels north and given that he's hasn't competed since finishing fourth on the Manx National Rally last May, he may take time to get up to speed, he's using the event as a shakedown for next month's Ulster Rally and Down Rally.

The Munster Car Club, organisers of the Cork '20' Rally (September 26/27) have announced MRF Tyres as the event's title sponsor.

In motor racing, Offaly's Alex Dunne (Rodin Motorsport) has gained three additional championship points from last Sunday's FIA Formula 2 Feature Race at Spa Francorchamps following the exclusion of Noel Leon (Campos Racing). It was found that a non-operational person (team guest) was using a headset with a microphone fitted in the pitlane during the Red Flag period - contrary to the Sporting Regulations. Clonbullogue driver Dunne is back in action on this weekend's round nine in Budapest and hoping to make inroads to the 53 points deficit to championship leader Bulgarian Nikola Tsolov (Campos Racing).

The Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain resumes after its nine-week hiatus with West Cork driver Michael Keohane (Century Motorsport) aiming to maximise his points haul for the Master's category from the double header at the Thruxton circuit near Southampton. Some twenty-four years ago the Ballygurteen driver, then racing in single seaters with Carlin Motorsport, finished second to Finland's Heikki Kovalainen, who later went on to race Formula One (2007 to 2013) winning the Hungarian Grand Prix with McLaren in 2008.

There are two 15-minute qualifying sessions tomorrow (Saturday) with two races on Sunday at 9.30am and 1.30pm.

Weekend Motorsport Diary Saturday:

82nd Rally Poland (Round 4, European Rally Championship) Katowice. 8.01am Carryduff Forklift Rallye Lecale (Round 4, Brown and Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship) Downpatrick, County Down. 9.00am. FIA Formula2 Championship, Hungaroring, Budapest. 1.15pm.

Sunday 82nd Rally Poland (Round 4, European Rally Championship) Katowice. 7.22am FIA Formula2 Championship, Hungaroring, Budapest. 10.25am; Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup Great Britain, Thruxton. 9.30am & 1.30pm.