Mission accomplished as Ben Crealey completes his first forest rally
Posted: March 10, 2017 5:48 AM
For 17-year old rally driver Ben Crealey from Portadown, Saturday's(28th March) Dolgellau-based Rally North Wales marked a significant step in his career, when he and co-driver Phil Hall from Nottingham overcame challenging weather conditions and a series of transmission problems to score Ben's first finish in multi-venue stage rally. Added to this, it was also his first forest rally, as all his previous competition had all taken place on an asphalt surface rather than gravel.
After winning the Irish Junior 1000 Rally Challenge in 2012 and finishing second in the Scottish equivalent a year later, Ben took a year off to concentrate on his education in 2014 and, since turning 17, is now using this year to develop his rallying skills. Under the watchful eye of his Father Brendan (a former rally driver himself) and with the guidance of the MSA Young Driver Academy behind him, Ben is scheduled to contest a series of events in order to gain as much experience as possible, before challenging for the British Junior title in 2016.
Consequently, the Rally North Wales provided a first for Ben on a number of different levels: it was his first multi-venue stage event, first gravel rally, first rally with detailed pace notes and first event with his new co-driver Phil Hall. Although testing on gravel a few weeks beforehand, Ben was naturally a little apprehensive as he lined up at the start of the six-stage, 40-mile event in his Fiesta ST. The situation was made even more challenging due to the stormy conditions and torrential rain.
The wet weather meant the going would be slippery, but Ben was never to find out exactly how much grip there was in the first stage, as a driveshaft broke as he left the start line. He and Phil did a great job of nursing the car to the end of the eight-miles through Garthineog Forest, before the Geoff Jones Motorsport crew could change the shaft at the auxiliary service halt.
The next two stages in Dyfi Forest went well, until the transmission started jumping out of second gear. Even so, Ben began to get to grips with his car and the conditions. Once back at the service halt in Dolgellau, the team checked over the Fiesta and he and Phil headed off for the second loop of the same three stages they had tackled earlier, keen to have a clear run this time around.
But the transmission troubles continued and suddenly Ben found that the only gears he had were third and fourth. Then, in stage five, fourth gear went as well, meaning he was only left with third. Once again, Ben adapted to the situation and, together with help from Phil, was able to not only get through the sixth and final stage, but also make it back to the finish in Dolgellau.
Their efforts were rewarded with a final placing of eighth in class and 59th overall - a position that matched their seeding. Following the event, a relieved Ben said:
"I'm really pleased we achieved what we set out to achieve, which was to get to the finish of my first 'proper' rally. I have to thank the Geoff Jones Motorsport team for keeping us going and Phil, who had to get out of the car sometimes to try to fix things. Although it was frustrating at times, I really enjoyed the rally and learnt a lot. They tell me that it's all good experience. I now can't wait until the next one."
The next event for Ben and Phil will be the Monaghan Stages Rally, which takes place on 26th April. The event features three stages run three-times on closed public roads in County Monaghan.
Ben's team is supported by Yokohama Tyres, Donnelly Group and ITS. You can follow his progress on Facebook, Twitter and at www.bencrealey.com.
Results
Posted: March 10, 2017 5:36 AM
Seeded Entry List
Posted: March 10, 2017 5:35 AM
Rally North Wales receives its latest world class entry - SATURDAY 28TH MARCH 2015
Posted: March 6, 2015 2:49 PM
2014 MSA British Rally Championship runner up and rising Junior World Rally Championship star Osian
Pryce is one of the latest entries received by the organisers of The North Wales Rally Services – Weir
Laundry Equipment RNW Stages (Rally North Wales). Local hero Pryce has recently lodged his entry into
the World Rally Championship support series and will use the event as a valuable seat time opportunity
ahead of his first round, Rallye Portugal in May.
After narrowly missing out on the British Rally title on the final round in the Isle of Man last year, Pryce
has looked to the future and taking on the best junior drivers in the world was the next logical step for
the 22 year old from Machynlleth. Fitting a new “Max” kit to his Citroen has offered the youngster some
car improvements and Rally North Wales is the ideal opportunity to test the new found power in the
now familiar DS3 R3.
“Rally North Wales is an event both close to my heart and of course my back yard too” says Pryce. “The
stages in Dyfi and Gatheiniog are ones I know well and to test the new settings on the Citroen on my
home is event is a fantastic opportunity. I know the organisers are working very hard to put on a great
rally for everyone and the new look format should appeal to competitors across the country. I’m hoping
we can do well on the event too, of course local knowledge will help to some extent but the stages are
still very challenging so I’m sure it will be a tough event”.
Pryce will be joined by regular co-driver Dale Furniss for the March 28th event organised by
Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Car Club. His family firm G&M Pryce are also supporting the
event which is based in Dolgellau and offers a cost effective event with a compact format to ensure
minimal cost for competitors. Over 40 stage miles and just 60 road miles are on offer for £450 and the
event shares it stages with the World Rally Championship finale, Wales Rally GB.
Rally North Wales is a qualifying round of the The Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship, HRCR Mintex
‘Old Stager’ Historic Stage Rally Championship, Brian Dennis Motorsport Welsh Historic Rally
Championship and AWNCC Historic Stage Championship, REIS ASWMC Loose Stage Rally Championship
and the ANWCC Forest Rally Championship. The event is also a qualifier for the prestigious Road to
Wales incentive where one lucky competitor could win a free entry to the November Wales Rally GB
event.
All roads lead to Rally North Wales
Posted: February 13, 2015 3:21 PM
The North Wales Rally Services – Weir Laundry Equipment RNW Stages (Rally North Wales) are delighted
to announce an opportunity for one lucky event class winner to contest the final round of the FIA World
Rally Championship, Wales Rally GB. As part of the highly successful Road to Wales initiative, event
organisers Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Car Club have secured Rally North Wales as a
qualifying event for the prize which will offers the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s best
drivers on the November showdown.
Introduced in 2013 to revitalise the concluding round of the WRC, the Road to Wales programme has
enabled winning competitors from a wide range of championships to secure a free entry to the event.
This year, the organisers of Wales Rally GB have elected to add a small number of individual events to
this tally and Rally North Wales is proud to be selected as a qualifying event, offering a prize worth up to
£1500 for one lucky competitor.
Competitors in all classes of both the National A, B and Historic sections of the event are eligible with
the class winners and overall event winner being entered into a draw on publication of the final results.
One lucky crew will be picked from a hat and will be awarded this prestigious prize. The winner will then
have the opportunity to select whether to contest the full International event, or the National section of
Wales Rally GB. Richard Hinton, Clerk of the Course of Rally North Wales believes this is a fantastic
opportunity for competitors across the UK. “I think every rally driver dreams of contesting Wales Rally
GB at some point in their career and Rally North Wales is proud to be able to offer the opportunity to
make that dream a reality” he says. “As it’s a random draw, it’s open to any class winner which means
someone in a world car is equally likely to win the prize as someone in say a historic or Class 1. We would
like to thank the organisers of Wales Rally GB for selecting our event for the initiative and we look
forward to declaring the winner on Saturday 28th March.”
Rally North Wales is a qualifying round of the The Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship, HRCR Mintex
‘Old Stager’ Historic Stage Rally Championship, Brian Dennis Motorsport Welsh Historic Rally
Championship and AWNCC Historic Stage Championship, REIS ASWMC Loose Stage Rally Championship
and the ANWCC Forest Rally Championship.
The new look format offers a cost effective event with a compact format to ensure minimal cost for
competitors. Rally North Wales offers over 40 stage miles and just 60 road miles for just £450 and
shares it stages with the World Rally Championship finale, Wales Rally GB.
The regulations are available to download at the event website
Entries Received
Posted: January 27, 2015 12:51 PM
Available at:
Regulations / Event Website
Posted: January 24, 2015 4:02 PM
News Stories
Classifieds
Shop
TV Guide
Links
Upcoming 
Most