Academy crews continue BRC ambitions on Grampian Forest Rally

Five Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy members will head to north-east Scotland this weekend for the British Rally Championship's fourth round, the Grampian Forest Rally, as multiple championship campaigns reach crucial stages.

William Creighton sits joint-first in the BRC standings alongside Castrol MEM team-mate Meirion Evans as the championship race heats up. The 27-year-old's season began with a commanding victory on BRC's East Riding Stages opener before securing second place on the Kielder Carlisle Stages, maintaining his title challenge with consistent front-running performances.

Creighton has fine-tuned his Toyota Yaris Rally2 package with a successful warm-up victory on July's Nicky Grist Stages, demonstrating the pace and consistency required to challenge for BRC honours.

The Grampian Forest Rally presents unique challenges with its single-use stages designed to protect surface quality, demanding drivers find their rhythm quickly and maximise their pacenotes.

"We're all looking forward to the Grampian," said Creighton. "The rally has great stages that offer a bit of everything. Although the event will use a much different layout compared to last year, we have good experience with the characteristics of these roads, so that should help.

"The stages can get quite rough in places, so a number will only be run once. It'll be important to find a good rhythm with the car and the pacenotes right from the start.

“We’ve worked hard between events with the team and the Academy to understand where we can improve. Events like the Nicky Grist have helped us continue to learn how to get the most from the Yaris and develop my own performance on gravel. The competition in the BRC is incredibly tight, so it’s about fine margins.

“As always, I want to thank the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, Castrol, the MEM team and everyone who continues to support us. We’ll do everything we can to fight for another strong result next weekend.”

Junior BRC leader Kyle McBride and co-driver Darragh Mullen arrive in Scotland targeting another strong result to consolidate their championship position. The 22-year-old has delivered impressive recent victories on the Donegal International Rally in the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup and the Jim Clark Rally in Junior BRC.

McBride faces the challenge of switching from his recent asphalt success back to gravel competition, with the Grampian Rally marking only his second gravel event of the year. Sitting third in the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup, just six points off the lead, McBride is in contention for both Rally4 series.

"I am really looking forward to getting back to my Junior BRC campaign," said McBride. "It has been a good year for us so far, and I can't wait to get onto the forestry roads in Scotland.

“The stages are looking good, and they are quite unique. There is a spectator stage included this year as well, which will be quite interesting.

“It has been quite a big break since getting a home win on the Donegal International Rally, so I am looking forward to keeping the pace up. Getting back onto gravel will be good fun; we have a good test under our belts, too.

“Thanks to everyone who is supporting us, we are aiming for another good weekend.”

The academy's Killian McArdle will co-drive for Peugeot 208 Rally4 pilot Joseph Kelly, continuing their intense rivalry with McBride and Mullen in Junior BRC and the Stellantis Cup. Kelly and McArdle currently hold a narrow two-point lead in the Stellantis Cup, setting up a fascinating battle between the academy-connected crews.

The Grampian Forest Rally begins on Friday evening with the first of two stages starting at 18:09. The action resumes with eight stages on Saturday, adding to a total of 89 competitive kilometres.

Back in Ireland, the MI Rally Academy duo of Jack Harris and Aaron O’Regan continue their MI Junior Rally Series campaign at the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally. Harris has one win to his name already this year and will be hoping to build on his runner-up finish on the Mayo Forestry Rally.

“Aaron and I cannot wait to get back into the car this weekend after a long break since the Donegal International Rally,” the 20-year-old commented. “We return to the familiar stages of the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, where I have had great success in the past two years in J1000 and Class 2A.

“There is going to be big competition again in the Rally4 class - we will give it a good go.”