European Rally Champion Chris Ingram ensured his Probite British Rally Championship title hopes remain firmly on track, with a thrilling victory at the weekend’s Voyonic Grampian Forest Rally [9/10 August].
Ingram hurled his Michelin-shod Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 through the nine blistering fast Scottish gravel tests, and despite only taking one stage win, did just enough to keep the chasing pack at bay, giving him and co-driver Alex Kihurani their second BRC win of the season.
Early rally leaders Osian Pryce and Rhodri Evans put in a sublime performance in their Ford Fiesta Rally2, recovering from an uncharacteristic error to secure second spot, whilst Jim Clark Rally winners Keith Cronin and Mikey Galvin rounded out the podium in their Pirelli-backed Fiesta.
The switch back to gravel saw Britain’s premier rally championship head for the north of Scotland and the Banchory-based event after a year away, with stages stamped in the history books over many decades. The ultra-fast and flowing stages in Kincardineshire would test the BRC contenders to the limit, with fortune favouring the brave over the high-speed tests, spread over two days.
After the huge crowds waved off crews from the Banchory Rally Zone on Friday afternoon, two stages lay ahead and it was championship leader William Creighton who was fastest out of the blocks, calling on his experience of his trip to the WRC Rally Finland in his Fiesta Rally2. He and co-driver Liam Regan took the initiative by just 0.7s over Pryce in the six-mile Hurlie Bog opener.
But that hard work would be undone on the very next stage, with a puncture losing the Irishman almost 27 seconds and demoting him to fifth. Step forward Pryce, who, after professing to have changed his approach to the Fiesta for the weekend, claimed his first scratch time to claim the overnight lead by four seconds from Ingram and Cronin rounding out the top three.
Day two offered the bulk of the mileage with seven tough tests on offer and Creighton wasted no time in trying to make up for his lost time the previous evening. Back-to-back stage wins showed his intent on climbing back up the leaderboard; and indeed he had, claiming third place heading into the first service of the day. Pryce was still out front but only just; Ingram going faster than the Welshman on both occasions to close the gap to just 1.9 seconds.
But it was the fifth test that would cause the biggest upset of the weekend, the five-miles of Durris. The first victim was Pryce who lost a staggering 27 seconds with a spin, the Fiesta snatching away from him on a high-speed section. Then Creighton suffered a similar fate, losing 15 seconds in the process, meaning it was advantage Ingram, and Pryce would be demoted to fourth.
That left Cronin in second and a great performance from Hyundai i20 N Rally2 ace James Williams and co-driver Ross Whittock saw them take third. But with Ingram now wearing the target on his back, an epic battle unfolded for the podium positions. Pryce responded with yet another stage win on the very next stage to reduce the gap to under twenty seconds and move back into second, although the seventh test would claim Williams’ Hyundai, suspension damage putting an end to his run.
Two stage wins from the three remaining showed a stellar pace from Pryce, but it wasn’t enough to overhaul Ingram who returned an inch-perfect performance to take win number two in the BRC this season and give the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, its maiden championship win.
“It’s been one of the most difficult rallies I’ve ever completed in the country” said a relieved Ingram after the final test.
“I’m not that happy with my gravel pace and I was a bit confused with the set-up [of the car] today. We can improve a lot. Fair play to both Osian [Pryce] & William [Creighton] for their pace. This win is great for our championship although I think I was just a bit lucky here, but then we were unlucky on the Jim Clark. Some of the guys have really upped their pace, but I’m up for the fight.”
Pryce was just nine seconds away from victory, but a positive points haul in Scotland will be added to his Severn Valley Stages victory and that will do his hopes for a second BRC title no harm at all. Likewise, Cronin was satisfied with third and whilst he felt there was “work to do” a podium here put him in the race for a record-equalling fifth title.
In a rally of ‘what could have been’ Creighton salvaged fourth with a returning Jonny Greer taking his Citroen C3 Rally2 to fifth with Niall Burns alongside, the pairing enjoying the gravel and first BRC outing since 2019.
Elsewhere across the BRC classes Stephen Waugh and Carl Williamson secured yet another bRC win in their Fiesta Rally3 to cement their place at the top of the category standings.
Junior BRC
The Junior BRC battle was once again an impressive affair with the progressive youngsters vying for maximum category points in a close-run season so far.
The Fiesta Rally4 crew of Ryan MacHugh and Arthur Kierans would end the opening day in the lead with a 9.8s cushion to the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup IRE & UK honours this weekend. But once again the Durris test was the one to bite back, with MacHugh damaging the rear beam and McBride ending his event off the road.
Step forward Robert Proudlock who suffered a tough start with gearbox issues on Friday night, but set a scintillating pace over Saturday’s tests to take his Peugeot 208 Rally4 to an impressive victory with Steven Brown alongside. His second win of the season, Proudlock has been dominant on gravel and firms up his lead of the Junior BRC with the result.
Keelan Grogan and Ayrton Sherlock took second place in their Peugeot whilst Ioan Lloyd and Sion Williams rounded out the podium in their similar machine.
Open Rally Title
Hugh Brunton was unbeatable in the Open Rally Title race, he and co-driver Terry Mallin taking their Skoda Fabia to their second win of the season with a sizeable gap to John Morrison and Sinclair Young in their Fiesta. Category leader John Rintoul and co-driver Ross Hynd rounded out the category podium.
A legend returns
Celebrating 50 years in the sport, five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae ensured his name was stamped on the BRC leaderboard once again, by taking the National Rally Title top spot at the Grampian. McRae, father of the late World Champion Colin, and 1995 British Champion Alister, holds a 35-year unbeaten BRC record and brought a Ford Escort MK1 to the event in a fan-pleasing return to the sport.
Now 80 years old, McRae proved he lost none of his magic, by taking the category spoils.
“Who would have believed I’d be here 50 years ago, winning the class hey” he said.
“Totally unbelievable! I was a bit apprehensive to start with on Friday, but this morning I thoroughly enjoyed it. We got to the end of the long stage & it was great to be greeted by Hollie [McRae, Granddaughter and BRC presenter] who was interviewing folk. I said to her, it was just something else to get back into and enjoying it. A huge thanks to Mike Stuart, the car was faultless; it’s a lovely wee car. Let’s not forget the car is 50 years old too!”.
William Mains and Tomos Whittle overcame a few niggles along the way in their Vauxhall Corsa to claim second place and put them well in contention for the category.
The British Rally Championship now shifts its focus to the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion at the end of the month where the closed moorland roads near Aberystwyth host the next round of the season and the chance for the BRC regulars to go head-to-head with the FIA European Rally Championship aces.
You can catch up with all the BRC action from the Grampian Forest Rally, broadcast on ITV4, ITV4+1 and ITVX. The rally will be broadcast on 21st August at 8pm on ITV4, and available on the ITVX platform shortly afterwards.
Keep tabs on all the latest BRC developments by visiting www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk or by following us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter using #BRCRally.
