Creighton Dominates To Claim Maiden BRC Victory
Creighton Dominates East Riding Stages to Claim Maiden BRC Victory
William Creighton and Liam Regan made a stunning return to the Probite British Rally Championship on Sunday, February 23rd, securing a commanding victory at the season-opening East Riding Stages Rally.
After finishing as runners-up in last year’s championship, the duo was determined to make an impact, and they did just that—claiming victory in seven out of ten stages to earn their first-ever BRC win. Piloting the Michelin-backed Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, they finished an impressive 23 seconds ahead of their closest rivals, Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin, with James Williams and Ross Whittock rounding out the podium just ten seconds further back.
Joining the Castrol MEM Rally Team for 2025, Creighton sought redemption after narrowly missing out on the title last year while driving a Fiesta Rally2. With a highly competitive entry list gathering in Beverley for the season opener, excitement in the service park was palpable.
A Strong Start Despite Challenging Conditions
Weather played a significant role in the rally, with conditions proving unpredictable throughout the day. Fortunately, crews were greeted with a dry opening loop of four stages, allowing them to push hard from the outset. Creighton wasted no time asserting his dominance, setting the fastest time on the first stage.
Garry Pearson, returning with the M-Sport Ford Rally Team, made an immediate impression by posting the second-quickest time in his Pirelli-shod Fiesta Rally2. Meanwhile, James Williams demonstrated the potential of MRF Tyres, putting his Hyundai i20N Rally2 third on the timesheets, with teammate Max McRae close behind in a Citroen C3 Rally2.
Cronin, adjusting to his new Race & Rally Citroen C3 Rally Team machine, adopted a cautious approach but steadily improved as the day progressed.
Drama Unfolds in the First Loop
As the competition heated up, the rally claimed its first casualties. James Ford and Neil Shanks saw their Citroen C3 Rally2 end up in a ditch following a high-speed spin on the opening stage. The fourth stage proved even more chaotic, with both Pearson and McRae encountering trouble.
Pearson lost valuable time after hitting a bank, dropping to fourth place, while McRae's day took a turn for the worse after clipping a bale at high speed. The impact forced him off the road, injuring his wrist in the process and ultimately leading to his retirement.
Meanwhile, Creighton continued to control the rally, seamlessly adapting to his new Yaris and tyre package. By mid-day service, he held a comfortable lead, while Cronin had climbed to second and Williams sat in third.
Afternoon Showers and Final Stages
As rain moved in for the afternoon stages, many drivers found the damp conditions more predictable, allowing them to push harder. Despite the changing weather, Creighton remained unfazed, maintaining his lead while the non-homologated cars stole the show on the super special stages.
MEM teammate Meirion Evans briefly grabbed third place before Williams reclaimed it on stage seven. That same stage saw Pearson’s rally come to an abrupt end when he misjudged his braking and went off the road.
With the top three positions now set, Creighton expertly managed his pace in the closing stages to secure a well-deserved victory—his first BRC win after a string of runner-up finishes in 2024.
“Yeah, I don’t really know what to say,” admitted an elated Creighton.
“It’s our first rally in the car, and we hadn’t had much seat time before the event, but despite the tricky conditions, everything just felt right. I’m really excited for what’s ahead! A massive thank you to Liam for keeping me on track today, as well as to Castrol, Michelin, and all our sponsors. And of course, Motorsport Ireland Academy—I wouldn’t be here without them. The Yaris is an incredible machine, and I’m just so happy!”
Cronin was equally pleased with his C3 Rally2 debut, securing second place and looking forward to building on the strong start. In contrast, Williams, despite a solid third-place finish, was already eyeing victories, feeling that he had more to give as the season progresses. Evans finished just six seconds behind in fourth, with Callum Black and Jack Morton rounding out the top five in their Fiesta Rally2.
Notable Performances Across the Field
After struggling with setup issues early on, Black adapted well to the wet conditions and collected valuable points for the newly formed UCRC China Rally Team. Meanwhile, Estonian driver Romet Jürgenson, the 2024 Junior WRC champion, impressed on his asphalt debut in a Rally2 car, even setting the second-fastest time on stage four before finishing sixth in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2.
In BRC3, Robert Proudlock adapted quickly to his new Fiesta Rally3, taking the class victory with co-driver Dan James. The BRC4 category was dominated by Scottish duo Meghan O’Kane and Nikki Addison, who stormed to victory in their Ford Fiesta R2, finishing a massive four minutes ahead of the competition.
Junior BRC: McBride Seals the Win
The Junior British Rally Championship saw an intense battle between Kyle McBride and Craig Rahill, both piloting Peugeot 208 Rally4s. Rahill started strong, leading the way in the dry morning loop, but two spins in the wet afternoon stages allowed McBride to surge ahead and claim victory.
“Happy to get to the finish—it was a really tricky day,” said McBride. “The goal was to settle in, get points on the board, and build confidence. Huge thanks to Motorsport Ireland Academy and my sponsors. Can’t wait for the next one!”
Rahill salvaged second place, while Craig Grogan and Ayrton Sherlock rounded out the podium.
Open and National Rally Titles
In the Open Rally Title category, Sam Touzel and Max Freeman piloted their Fiesta Rally2 to victory after early leader Hugh Brunton crashed out in his Skoda Fabia Rally2.
The National Rally Title belonged to Rob Cotton, who took his new Subaru Impreza to an emphatic win, finishing 17th overall.
With the season opener now complete, attention turns to the Carlisle Stages Rally on April 12, where crews will face their first gravel challenge of the season.