Crealey Tries to the End

Posted: October 25, 2004 8:21 PM

However, their season ended prematurely when they clipped a rock blasting through the last stage of this weekend’s Bulldog Rally.

Starting in Newtown and finishing in Shrewsbury the Kumho National Rally Championship finale saw full and high quality entry. Although having already done enough to claim the Production Championship for near standard specification cars, Crealey, from Portadown and Harris, from Sheffield, approached the event looking for another Group N Class victory, as well as aiming to finish as high as possible in the overall standings.

Rain during the week leading up to the event and on the day itself meant that conditions in the Welsh forests were far from perfect, the gravel road surfaces slippery and unpredictable. However, it would take more than that to phase Crealey and straight away he took the class lead and an overall position of fourth, all three competitors ahead of him driving highly modified World Rally Cars.

Just behind the Ulsterman a battle raged for the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge title between Rory Galligan and Paul Wedgbury. With Crealey’s seat as a works driver being awarded to the winner of the one make series for Group N Lancer Evolutions, he knew that he was going to come under pressure for class position in this event - and he was right, Galligan just edging ahead by 0.2 seconds on SS2.

For the remainder of the day it was nip-and-tuck between the two Mitsubishi drivers and as they lined up to start SS9, a nine mile run through Dyfnant Forest, Crealey was just six seconds behind.

Mindful that Galligan was leading the Evo Challenge by 30 seconds and may therefore take things a little more cautiously to ensure he claimed the ultimate prize, Crealey went on a mission to claw back the six second deficit.

Then suddenly, half way through the stage, a hidden rock on the inside of a left hand bend caught him out, the resulting impact removing the car’s nearside front wheel. Although he tried to make it to the finish, it was not to be. An unfitting end for what has been a great season for the team.

“This is not the way we wanted to finish our year, but we certainly went out trying”, said a philosophical Crealey. “It was my last ever stage in the works car and we had an opportunity to claim another class win, so we had no hesitation in giving it all we had for the final run. It’s been a real privilege to drive for Mitsubishi and I have enjoyed every minute of it.”

General Manager for Ralliart, Paul Brigden said:
“This has been our first season supporting a full UK rally programme and I am delighted it has proved to be so successful. I have to thank Brendan and Steve for their efforts in enabling us to secure the National Production Championship. They have been great ambassadors for Mitsubishi and I wish them both the best of luck with their future rallying campaigns.”

Mr Brigden also extended his thanks to ADR Motorsport for preparing and running the car so well throughout the season.

The team now looks forward to 2005 with its new driver, Rory Galligan and a new challenge: The British Rally Championship!

The Mitsubishi Motors UK Group N Evolution VIII is supported by: Walon UK, Pirelli Tyres, Shell Racing Fuels, Speedline Corse, PIAA and HKS.

• Bulldog Rally - (Sat) 23 Oct 04

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13/09/04
Crealey Wins and Secures Production Title for Mitsubishi

Driving the Mitsubishi Motors UK Evolution VIII, Brendan Crealey and co-driver Steve Harris won the Production Class on Saturday¹s (11th September) Park Systems Furniture Stages Rally, round six of the Kumho National Rally Championship - and in doing so became Production Category Champions - with one round still to go!

After winning the fiercely fought class for near standard specification cars on the season¹s opening round and finishing second on all four others, Crealey was eager for another victory, especially on this event.

With a 23 point lead in the category standings, Crealey, from Portadown and Harris, from Sheffield, left the start in Newton Stewart to contest the seven special stages in the forests of the Dumfries and Galloway Hills quietly confident they could clinch the title, with only fellow Mitsubishi driver, Martin Sansom, in a position to mount a challenge.

Right from the word go Crealey was on a mission and went fastest of the Group N runners on the opening test, a time quick enough to see him and Harris 6th overall and up amongst the highly modified WRC cars.

Having fitted a set of Pirelli tyres which ideally suited the conditions, Crealey came into the service halt following the first two stages delighted with his Mitsubishi's handling and speed, his six second class advantage confirming that the stages suited a production specification Evolution.

The next leg of three stages saw Crealey not only maintain his Class lead, but increase his overall position to third by the end of the fifth test, the Ulsterman revelling in some of his favourite forests. As he drove into the second service break of the day he reported:

"The stages are excellent and the car is performing perfectly. I'm thoroughly enjoying the driving but it is important to stay focussed on getting to the finish to ensure we claim the title for Mitsubishi."

The news of Sansom's retirement on stage four meant some of the pressure was off, but that did not distract the works Mitsubishi crew and they continued at the same blistering pace.

Suddenly a puncture on the seventh and final stage changed the complexion on things and with four miles left to go Crealey opted to drive to the end of the stage. Although losing around 30 seconds others in the class were suffering similar problems and after a few anxious moments waiting for the final times to come in, Crealey and Harris were confirmed Production Category winners of the event and 2004 Production Category Champions.

"This is the result we have been working for all year", said Crealey. "I am so pleased to have clinched the Championship with a win, especially with one round still to go. I'm even more pleased to have won the title for Mitsubishi and I must thank them for the opportunity of achieving this result."

Paul Brigden, General Manager for Ralliart, was also delighted with the result:

"It is important for us as a works team to have come out on top this year. Brendan, Steve and ADR Motorsport have done a great job in securing us this title. I would also like to thank: Walon UK Pirelli tyres, Shell Racing Fuels, Speedline Corse wheels, PIAA and HKS for their additional support"

Such was the pace of the works team on this event they ended the day 4th overall, a result which sees Crealey move up to 2nd in the overall National Championship driver's standings and puts Harris first in the co-driver's table.

The seventh and final round of the Kumho National Rally championship, the Bulldog Rally, takes place on 23rd October, the traditional series finale utilising some of the most famous rally stages in mid and north Wales. The team will contest this final round safe in the knowledge that they cannot be beaten in the Production Category and therefore will concentrate on consolidating their overall Championship positions.

• Park Rally - (Sat) 11 Sep 04

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19/07/04
Crealey Tightens Grip on Championship
Driving the Mitsubishi Motors UK Lancer Evolution VIII, Brendan Crealey, together with his co-driver Steve Harris, finished second in the Production Class and eighth overall in this Saturday's Swansea Bay Rally, round five of the Kumho National Rally Championship.

The result sees Crealey, from Portadown and Harris, from Sheffield, further extend their lead in the Championship's fiercely contested category for near production specification cars.

The National entry of 93 cars, of which 40 were eligible for the Production Class, faced seven timed special stages totalling a distance of 73 competitive miles in the forests surrounding the Neath Valley, just north of the event's host town.

With the stages long and fast in comparison with those on the other six rounds in the Championship, Crealey was confident his Mitsubishi's latest set-up would work well. However, a misfire on the opening 15 mile stage did little to get him off to the perfect start, the Ulsterman initially convinced that the persistent rain had made the stages so wet and slippery the conditions were sapping some of his car's power.

This initial hindrance resulted in the team being 11 seconds off the leader's time and fourth in the Group N class following the first stage, but with normal service resumed the battle to recover the lost time commenced, especially as the rain had stopped and the gravel forestry roads started to dry out.

At the end of the fourth stage Crealey had climbed up to second and it was close - very close, Martin Sansom, also in a Mitsubishi, just 0.6 of a second ahead of him, with Paul Wedgbury (Mitsubishi) and Geoff Jones (Subaru) both less than three seconds behind.

Now into the groove, Crealey was certain he could grab the lead in the 15 mile Reola stage that followed and, having set a blistering pace through the first two-thirds of the test, the lead looked to be coming his way.

Then suddenly, under braking for a tight corner, Crealey felt the car slide away from him, his Mitsubishi going off the road and down a bank. Instinctively he selected reverse and to his surprise the car launched itself back onto the road and it wasn't until he drove away from the corner he realised a punctured rear tyre had been the culprit for the incident.

Having to drive for the remaining five miles of the stage on only three inflated tyres, Crealey lost 30 seconds and was subsequently relegated to third behind Sansom and Jones.

With just two stages left to overturn the deficit, Crealey knew if was a tough call, but with a stone fracturing a brake pipe on Samson's car in the last of the day's seven stages, he powered through to take second in what the toughest battle for Production Category positions so far this season.

"Although we didn't win the class today I was really pleased with our performance", said a satisfied Crealey at the finish. "The Mitsubishi is going so well now I feel very confident with its handling and reliability. If we have another good points haul on the next event we should be able to wrap up the Production Category title, which has is the team's main aim for this year."

Crealey and Harris now lead the National Rally Championship's Production Category by 23 points and hold an impressive overall position of fourth amongst the highly modified WRC cars.

The Newton Stewart based Park Systems Stages is the next event in the Championship, taking place on 11th September in the Forests of Dumfries and Galloway.

The Mitsubishi Motors UK Group N Evolution VIII is supported by: Walon UK, Pirelli Tyres, Shell Racing Fuels, Speedline Corse, PIAA and HKS. The car is prepared and run on events by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield.

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07/06/04
Crealey Increases Championship Lead
Brendan Crealey and co-driver Steve Harris, extended their Production Category lead this weekend. Driving the Mitsubishi Motors UK Evolution VIII, they finished a sound second in the class and eighth overall in the Mutiny Rally, round four of the Kumho National Rally Championship.

Dry and dusty conditions greeted the entry of 84 crews, of which 40 cars were eligible for the fiercely contested Group N4 Class for over two-litre Production specification cars to which the works Evo complies.

The rally comprised nine special stages and 70 competitive miles in the Mid-Wales forests, the start and finish in Llandrindod Wells.

Having led the rally outright following the first stage last year and having a preference for the fast and flowing nature of the forestry roads which suit the handling characteristics of the Group N Mitsubishi, Crealey made no secret that he was looking forward to this event.

Crealey, from Portadown and Harris, from Sheffield, set off at a blistering pace, posting a time 18 seconds quicker than any of their Production category rivals on the opening 14 mile stage through Radnor Forest, their time also good enough to see them sixth in the overall standings.

³I really wanted to stamp our authority on proceedings early on,² reported Crealey. ³It meant we had a few breathtaking moments in the first stage as the layer of gravel on the surface of the roads made them very slippery.²

With everything going according to plan Crealey and Harris left the first service halt of the day for the next leg of five stages looking to build on their early advantage.

Then, on SS3, when approaching one of the numerous man-made chicanes, erected in order to slow competitors down, Crealey was caught out by a patch of loose gravel and clipped one of the tyres which made up the obstacle, the impact enough to bend the car¹s nearside steering arm.

Unsure as to the extent of the damage, Crealey drove cautiously through the rest of the stage, losing valuable seconds in the process. The team quickly replaced the offending component, but on the next stage the Ulsterman¹s concerns were diverted to the temperature gauge, the engine seeming to run hotter than usual.

When cars arrived at the second service halt of the day following SS6, Crealey¹s resulting change of pace saw his advantage diminish to just three seconds, leading Evolution Challenge competitor, Rory Galligan on a mission and now snapping at his heels.

With three stages left to go, it was decision time: Whether to throw caution to the wind and drive flat out to retain the class lead and risk a non-finish, or opt for a more considered approach to ensure another haul of championship points. With stage seven found to contain an especially rough section, the choice was made and Crealey emerged from the test second in class, a position held to the end of the event.

³Obviously I¹m disappointed not to win Group N, especially as I regard this event as the one of the best in the calendar, but I¹m delighted we have scored more championship points and extend our Production Cup lead,² said Crealey. ³We proved on the first stage that when all is going well we can beat the others in the class. It¹s a shame that a number of small things slowed us down in the latter part of the event, but the team worked exceptionally hard to make sure that any problems were kept to a minimum.²

Crealey and Harris now lead the Production Category Championship by 18 points and hold an overall position of fourth.

The next round of the Kumho National Rally Championship is the Swansea Bay Rally, which takes place on 17th July.

The Mitsubishi Motors UK Group N Evolution VIII is supported by: Walon UK, Pirelli Tyres, Shell Racing Fuels, Speedline Corse, PIAA and HKS. The car is prepared and run on events by ADR Motorsport of Chesterfield.

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15/05/04 Crealey Extends Championship Lead on the Isle of Man
A faultless performance by the Mitsubishi Motors UK rally team of Brendan Crealey and co-driver Steve Harris saw them bring the works Evolution VIII home a superb 2nd in Group N and in 8th place overall on this weekend's Roush Manx Rally, round three of the Kumho National Championship.

The event was to see the works car make its debut appearance on tarmac and, with Crealey favouring gravel to asphalt, the weekend was destined to be an important occasion for the team.

Five of the event's 16 special stages over the island's closed public roads were held on Friday evening, the first of which started in Port Erin. In the dry conditions, the Group N pace was fierce and as cars booked in to the Douglas TT Grandstand service area for the overnight halt, a pattern was already emerging for the Group N leader board.

Crealey predicted that his main competition was going to come from the works Subaru of Geoff Jones - and he was right; the Mitsubishi driver was 27 seconds adrift of his Subaru counterpart at the end of the first leg, fuel starvation problems hampering his progress.

Crealey was also mindful of his fellow countrymen contesting the Evolution Challenge, the Irish competitors traditionally more familiar with asphalt stages and the technical nature of the Manx roads. However, he was pleased to see he had the measure of the Evo Challenge field, 20 of which were battling away behind him.

Saturday dawned wet and foggy, the downturn in the weather further adding to the challenges faced by crews on the day's 11 stages.

During the morning Crealey became increasingly more at home with his environment and feeling confident with the car in the treacherous conditions he began to close down Jones' advantage.

Feeling the pressure was on, the Subaru driver spun on SS11 and with Crealey braver in the fog and subsequently faster on the following test, the gap between them came down to just three seconds with four stages to go.

Such was the pace of the two Group N (the class for near standard specification cars) front runners, they had launched themselves into the top ten of the overall leader board amongst a host of more powerful WRC machinery.

As the conditions eased slightly, Jones familiarity of the Manx roads allowed him to ease ahead. Knowing that second would provide him with a substantial points lead in the National Group N Championship, Crealey consolidated his position and crossed the line back in Douglas without a single scratch on the car - not bad after 127 competitive miles in such difficult conditions.

Crealey was therefore pleased with his and the car's performance:
"I was a little apprehensive before this event about how fast I could go on tarmac, but this result has given me so much more confidence away from the forests. Our overall position just proves how good an almost standard car can be up against WRC machinery. The Evo had so much traction, even in the tricky conditions and the Pirelli intermediate tyres also helped the level of grip we were able to find on the slippery sections."

Crealey and Harris now lie third overall in the Kumho National Rally Championship and lead the Production category for Group N cars by a substantial margin of 15 points.

The next event for Crealey, Harris and the MMUK works Evolution VIII will be the Mutiny Rally based in Llandrindod Wells on 5th June, where it's back to the gravel forest stages of Wales.

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Crealey Wins for Mitsubishi First Time Out
Brendan Crealey and co-driver Steve Harris gave the works Mitsubishi Motors UK Lancer Evolution VIII its maiden Group N victory first time out on this weekend¹s Rallye Sunseeker, the opening round of the 2004 Kumho National Rally Championship.

Crealey was awarded his works drive for 2004 for winning the 2003 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge. Although looking forward to the season ahead, Crealey, from Portadown and Harris, from Sheffield, were aware that the pressure was on to win the Group N Class (the category for near standard specification cars). A works entry from Subaru driven by the experienced Geoff Jones and 39 competitors in the Evolution Challenge all out to topple last year¹s Group N Champion off his pedestal.

ADR Motorsport, the team responsible for running the works Evo, had experienced a hard week on the lead up to this weekend. Pre-event testing had highlighted that the mapping for the engine¹s ECU was not ideal and the team worked tirelessly to ensure the car was ready, not only for the rally, but the media launch on Friday morning at Somerley Park near Ringwood.

The Bournemouth based event commenced on Friday evening with two runs through the town¹s botanical gardens and along the esplanade. In front of 1000s of spectators Crealey showed he had lost none of his last year¹s form and immediately set fastest Group N times, claiming a position of 13th overall out of a field of 130 cars.

Saturday saw 14 stages in the Ringwood and Wareham forests, the first of which were punctuated with intermittent patches of ice. Crealey revelled in the conditions and made the most of his Mitsubishi¹s exceptional handling by setting fastest Group N times on the first three of the day's tests, a performance which elevated him to second overall by the end of stage six.

SS7 was a 5.6 mile test through Somerley Park, where a heavy fall of Snow on Thursday night had left its mark. Crealey was momentarily caught out by the hazardous conditions as he approached a tight hairpin, the car leaving the road and the subsequent manoeuvring seeing 10 valuable seconds lost.

Jones took full advantage and claimed the lead, the Subaru driver rising to the challenge from Crealey who knew he now had to up his game even further, albeit mindful of the tricky conditions.

The following six stages saw the two Production car drivers locked in battle until SS14. It was here that former rally leader, Marcus Dodd had rolled. Jones arrived on the scene to find the road obstructed, his evasive action sending his car off the road and although undamaged he could not extract it from the scenery.

Crealey sized the opportunity and crossed the finish ramp in back Bournemouth to take victory in Group N and claim a well deserved sixth overall.

³This is a great result for us, Mitsubishi and ADR motorsport. The whole team has put in so much effort this week to make this happen I¹m just delighted we have been able to win Group N and finish so high up overall. We finished 18th on this event last year, ending the season 3rd and Group N Champions, so we are in a good position for the rest of the year. The car handled superbly, so with a bit of work between now and the next event I know we can be even more competitive.²

Round two of the Kumho National Rally Championship is the Astra Stages on 3rd April, the event based in Llangollen, the competitive mileage taking place in the North Wales forests.

Mitsubishi Motors UK¹s 2004 Group N National Rally campaign is supported by: Walon UK, Pirelli Tyres, Shell Racing Fuels, Speedline Corse, PIAA and HKS.