Meirion Evans is targeting a top result on this weekend’s Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally (23/24 May) as he makes a solo appearance for the Castrol MEM Rally Team in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Owing to a family wedding, William Creighton is unable to contest Round 3 of the Probite British Rally Championship – and whilst this is likely to cost him the BRC lead, he and co-driver Liam Regan will be back to resume their title challenge on Round 4.
Meirion is more than capable of upholding Castrol MEM Rally Team honours alone, as he returns to his favourite asphalt surface on tremendous form – having battled for the lead throughout the recent International Rally of the Lakes, finishing a close second on one of Ireland’s most iconic events.
The Jim Clark will be Meirion’s 16th rally in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 and his 10th on Tarmac – with the Welshman boasting an impressive 80% finishing record and six podium results.
Co-driven by Dale Furniss, Meirion will be aiming to strengthen his challenge for the BRC drivers’ title, as he arrives in the Scottish borders lying a challenging fifth in the series.
Meirion Evans said: “The Jim Clark is not a rally that I’ve had much joy on in the past, although there has always been a good reason for it – like last year, where we struggled a little on mixed surface sections where mud had been pulled out onto the road. There have been some good upgrades from Toyota to help with traction in those type of conditions and we’re in a much better place coming into this year’s event than we were twelve months ago.
“We certainly go to the event with confidence, having had a strong run on the Rally of the Lakes – winning some stages and fighting for victory. The Scottish stages are a lot different in character to the ones in Killarney, but the plan is to carry that form into this weekend and put in another good performance. We haven’t really clicked in the BRC yet this year. The East Riding was okay considering I wasn’t feeling well and being stuck in the dust and losing time on the Carlisle Stages was out of our control, so it would be nice to have a clean run and a good result this time.”
William Creighton said: “Due to an important family commitment, sadly we won’t be contesting the Jim Clark Rally. It’s been a great start to our BRC season so far and we remain fully committed and focused on the championship with the support of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, Castrol and the team. We are looking forward to resuming our campaign in the forests at the Grampian.”
The Borders Competitions Jim Clark Rally takes place over two days, 14 stages and 100 stage miles. The event will begin with a ceremonial start in Duns Square early on Friday (23 May) evening, followed by two loops of three stages totalling 46.5 stage miles – with at least three stages run in full darkness. Saturday (24 May) features two loops of four stages totalling 54.4 stage miles, before the champagne spraying finish celebrations back in Duns Square at 14:40.
