Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver William Creighton took second place in the Probite British Rally Championship (BRC) after a scintillating rally-long battle saw him narrowly miss out on the title at the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally [26 October].
Creighton, alongside co-driver Liam Regan, threaded his M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 across seven world-class stages in the North Wales forests, remaining within a hair’s breadth of claiming the coveted crown throughout the day.
After the opening stage, Creighton was just 0.9s behind the rally lead and even on the Clocaenog test, the longest of the event at over 14 miles, Creighton stopped the clocks just 0.4s shy of the fastest time.
Such was the intense competition for the title, Creighton equalled the fastest time over the last stage of the morning to lie just five seconds off the lead of the rally – and subsequently, the championship.
In a winner-takes-all all afternoon, Creighton would need to do everything he could to claw back the time and there was just 0.3s between him and rival Chris Ingram on the second pass of Clocaenog. Sadly, a gut-wrenching spin on the very next test saw his title hopes slip away, and he was forced to settle for second in the championship.
“We tried” said an emotional Creighton at the finish, “we really tried.”
“Thanks to the team [for this season], it has been a difficult year, stepping into Rally2 machinery has been tough, but the car has been amazing and to compete at the top of the BRC in one of these cars is just fantastic. I`m just gutted, we wanted this so very badly.”
“We were in the fight up until service and we definitely have the pace to fight out front, I just didn’t have that extra little bit today.”
But Creighton can be proud of his achievements in the British Championship this season. Taking three second places at the opening three rounds of the year saw him take an early lead in the series. Misfortune came in Scotland with punctures hampering a result, but maximum points at the at Rali Ceredigion salvaged his season, heading into the final round of the year with a four-way season-finale showdown for the crown.
“These opportunities may only come once in a lifetime, so of course I’m so disappointed. But we tried so very hard. Congratulations to Chris [Ingram] and Alex [Kihurani] for the win, it’s been a great battle all year.
“But a huge thank you to the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy for all their support, I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for them and of course to M-Sport for their hard work. As always, Liam has been incredible all season long and I must say an extended thank you to my entire family for their relentless support.
“I really could not have achieved all this without every one of them showing the dedication and backing that they have given this year. I can be proud of what we have accomplished, and we can head home with our heads held high.
“I look forward to what the future holds as I aim to continually progress, I will be working very hard to build on what I have learnt this year.”
