William Creighton and Liam Regan made a triumphant return to the Probite British Rally Championship on Sunday [23 February], clinching victory at the opening round of the 2025 season, the East Riding Stages Rally.
Last year’s BRC runners-up almost dominated the top of the time sheets, claiming seven stage wins from ten tests and securing their maiden BRC victory in the process. The Michelin-backed Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 pairing finished over 23 seconds ahead of Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin, with James Williams and Ross Whittock rounding out the podium just ten seconds further back.
Switching to the Yaris and joining the Castrol MEM Rally Team for 2025, Creighton aimed for redemption in Yorkshire after finishing runner-up in last season’s BRC, albeit in a Fiesta Rally2. However, with a star-studded entry list assembling in Beverley for the season opener, the atmosphere in the service park was filled with anticipation – both figuratively and literally.
All eyes were on the weather and with seemingly hard-to-master stages in store all day, crews would be thankful for a largely dry opening loop of four tests. With many team changes in the closed season, the anticipation was high for the opening stage, and it was Creighton who was fastest out of the blocks.
However, the second fastest time came from returning M-Sport Ford Rally Team’s Garry Pearson, who launched his Pirelli shod Fiesta Rally2 to a stunning time in the slippery conditions, showing every sign that his closed season preparations with co-driver Hannah McKillop were developing well.
Williams had laid down a positive early marker for the newcomers MRF Tyres, which enlisted the Hyundai i20N Rally2 driver and Ross Whittock to spearhead their BRC Teams charge with third fastest time, whilst fellow teammates Max McRae and Cameron Fair gave chase just two seconds shy on their Citroen C3 Rally2 debut.
Cronin admitted to a cautious start but would also need to get used to a new steed after swapping to the Race & Rally Citroen C3 Rally Team for the season and was fifth after the opener.
The first loop of four stages stayed dry with standing water and typical February muddy sections to contend with, the day was sure to deliver the drama, and indeed, it did.
James Ford and Neil Shanks were the first victims of the weekend, ending their rally on the first test with their Citroen C3 Rally2 stranded in a ditch after a high-speed spin. But it was the fourth stage that threw a curveball, with both Pearson and McRae suffering.
Pearson got off lightly, hitting a bank and losing over eight seconds but such was the race for the podium spots, it dropped him to fourth. McRae faired much worse, getting out of shape on a high-speed section, the Citroen driver clipped a bale which sent the car off the road. In the impact, McRae injured his wrist and whilst he emerged from the stage, he elected to get it checked and withdrew from the rally.
All the while, Creighton was unstoppable, bedding into his new Yaris and tyre combination with ease and enjoying a comfortable lead at mid-day service. Cronin was equally starting to shine, and the Irishman was very eager not to repeat his dismal BRC opener in 2024, lying in second with Williams third.
As the afternoon arrived, so did the rain. Many crews reported that it made conditions more consistent – and Creighton matched that consistency with his times. Whilst the spectacular fan-favourite super special stage wins went to the more powerful non-homologated cars, it was business as usual with the Yaris driver having 20 seconds in hand with three tests to go.
MEM Team mate Meirion Evans and Dale Furniss briefly launched themselves into the third spot in their Toyota, but Williams instantly responded to gain the place back on the seventh test. That stage would sadly claim Pearson who would leave the road after getting caught out under braking.
However, the positions remained unchanged over the closing stages, and Creighton returned a measured drive to round out his weekend. A rally win is always special but claiming his first BRC win after a season of second places in 2024, was a relief for the Irishman.
“Yeah, I don’t really know what to say really,” said a relieved Creighton.
“It’s our first rally in the car and we hadn’t done so much [in the Yaris] before the event and with such tricky conditions today, it’s just felt good.
“I’m really excited for what’s to come! A huge thanks to Liam for doing a great job on the notes today and keeping me on the straight and narrow. Thanks also to all the sponsors on the car, Castrol – everybody seems to have loved the livery! And of course, thank you as always to Motorsport Ireland Academy; without them, we wouldn’t be here.
“I’m just really, really happy, I honestly didn’t know what to expect, how long it was going to take us to gain that confidence with the car. Fair play to Toyota & the guys who built this car because it’s some bit of kit!”
Cronin was equally happy to come away with second overall on his C3 Rally2 debut. After campaigning a Fiesta for several years, the switch has so far proved fruitful and a positive start to his 2025 season with “more to come” the promise from the four-time BRC champion.
In contrast, third-placed Williams was eager to point out that his goals this season are wins, and he left the stop line of the final stage feeling a little disappointed not to have taken the fight to Creighton. Evans was a whisker away from the podium and just over six seconds shy of fourth overall, while Callum Black and Jack Morton rounded out the top five in their Fiesta Rally2.
Black would suffer from a slow start to the day thanks to setup and tyre choices, but once the rain came, he relished in the conditions and took home valuable points for the newly established UCRC China Rally Team.
Estonian ace and 2024 Junior WRC winners Romet Jürgenson and Siim Oja made their asphalt debut in a Rally2 car acclimatising spectacularly, even setting the second-fastest time on the fourth test. The M-Sport Ford Rally Team crew took their Ford Fiesta Rally2 to sixth spot.
In BRC3, Robert Proudlock adapted perfectly to his new Fiesta Rally3 to secure the class win with new co-driver Dan James alongside. Making a sensational debut in the championship, Meghan O’Kane and Nikki Addison claimed the BRC4 spoils in their Ford Fiesta R2. The Scottish all-female crew finished a stagger four minutes in front of yourbrandhere.org/Ignition Motorsport Rally Team compatriots Michael Jenkins and Jordan Joines.
Junior British Rally Championship
Kyle McBride and Darragh Mullen entered into a feverish battle with Craig Rahill and Keelan Grogan for the Junior BRC spoils during the day.
It was a Peugeot 208 Rally4 lockout with each Junior opting for the French manufacturer and Rahill took the early initiative with a stellar pace in the dryer morning loop. However, two spins in the rain-soaked afternoon saw McBride get the bit between his teeth, overhauling both Grogan and Rahill over the closing stages to take the victory.
“Happy to get to the finish today, it’s been a very tricky day,” said McBride.
“We got on much better in that second loop there so, happy out. The aim this weekend was to get back in the car, take it steady & get some points on the board, so thankfully, we did just that.
I just can’t thank Motorsport Ireland Academy enough for all their support and all my sponsors who helped get me here and looking forward to working with some new people throughout the year so I can’t wait!”
Rahill and co-driver Conor Smith salvaged second from Grogan and Ayrton Sherlock who rounded out the podium.
Open Rally Title
Jerseyman Sam Touzel took his Fiesta Rally2 to the Open Rally Title category win with co-driver Max Freeman alongside. It was Hugh Brunton who set the early pace, well inside the top ten overall in his Skoda Fabia Rally2 but he would end his day on the same corner as BRC1 driver Garry Pearson, leaving Touzel to scoop the honours.
National Rally Title
Rob Cotton enjoyed an emphatic victory in the National Rally Title category, taking his new Subaru Impreza to an impressive 17th overall.
The Probite British Rally Championship now makes a switch to gravel as the Carlisle Stages steps up for the second round of the season on 12 April.
Keep tabs on all the latest BRC developments by visiting www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk or by following us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube using #BRCRally.
