CRONIN/GALVIN CONFIDENT BUT CAUTIOUS AHEAD OF BRITISH OPENER
Posted: March 21, 2024 4:25 PM
Fresh from their victory on the West Cork Rally last weekend, Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin commence their 2024 British Championship campaign on Saturday with the North West Stages Rally, which will be based in the Lancashire town of Garstang. Having also won the Galway International Rally last month, the Killarney and District Motor Club crew are in a strong position at the top of the Irish Tarmac Championship points table, and will be hoping for an equally positive start in the British series.
While Cronin is in a confident frame of mind heading to the English event, he regards his chances of three wins in a row as perhaps a bridge too far. "It's a busy start to the year for us, that much is certain, and it's gone very well so far", he said. "We had Galway last month, West Cork last weekend, the North West Stages is on Saturday, and we're back for the Circuit of Ireland the following weekend. The North West is a new event for us and there is a very strong line-up there, so we have to be realistic. A podium would be a great result for us, and to get some solid points on the board early on. There's six rounds in the British Championship this year, three on tarmac and three on gravel, and the first one is a closed road tarmac event, so that at least will be a help to us since we've just done three days in West Cork, although the surface over there can be very different to that in Ireland, what works here in terms of suspension set-up may not work in Lancashire, or in Scotland and Wales for the other closed road rounds".
As Cronin alludes to, the BRC has attracted much interest from competitors for 2024, and registrations are significantly up on previous years. This is no doubt fuelled in part by the fact that the championship will be televised on ITV4 and ITVX throughout the season, plus the introduction of a calendar which sees all rounds take place in Great Britain, thus reducing costs for the majority English, Scots and Welsh crews.
"The organisers have done a lot of work to boost the BRC, they have to be given credit where it's due, and the strength of the field for the North West is a reflection of that", noted Cronin. "Osian Pryce beat us to the BRC title in 2022, Meirion Evans came across to Ireland and won some of the Tarmac Championship rounds over the past couple of years, and William Creighton set some fastest times in West Cork at the weekend, he's going very well in the Rally 2 car so early in his career. Chris Ingram has to be the favourite though, he won the North West Stages on the most recent time in ran in 2022, he's a former European champion, he has an amount of rallying done across the continent. He went to a rally in France last year and was only a second or two off Sebastian Loeb, a nine-time World Champion, and that was on long stages, he's definitely the man everyone else will be watching".
The news revealed this week that Ingram will be in a new Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 from round three onwards (he will drive a Volkswagen Polo GTi R5 in the interim) has certainly added an additional dimension to the BRC. He and Meirion Evans will form a two-car Toyota line-up, and Evans will have a Yaris from the outset this weekend, marking the first ever appearance of the model on a UK rally. Its pace relative to the M-Sport built Fiestas of Cronin, Pryce and Creighton will be watched with great interest.
The Legend Fires North West Rally will consist of ten stages in all, a loop of five repeated, with the first getting underway at 9am. "Tyre choice will be absolutely crucial, especially if conditions are in any way mixed, which of course they could well be in March", said Cronin. "We get to pick our tyres in the morning before the start, and there's only one service during the day after that to change them, so it has be right, otherwise you'll just be at sea", added the Cork driver.
Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin are supported by M O’Brien Group of Companies, Lyons Motor Group, Shane Casey Electrical Services, Molson Equipment, Pirelli, EARS Motorsport Ireland, Cronin’s Centra (Ballylickey, Union Hall, Leap, Millstreet and Dundrum), Cronin’s HomeValue Hardware, Westlink Service Station and Daybreak Shop, Cremin Coaches, Keohane Seafoods, M-Sport and Wurth Ireland.
Probite British Rally Championship gears up for highly anticipated return to action
Posted: March 21, 2024 4:23 PM
The Probite Motorsport UK British Rally Championship roars back into life next weekend [22/23 March] with a bumper entry list for the Legend Fires North West Stages, marking a thrilling return for the reinvigorated series.
The opening round of the season has attracted a sensational lineup of top-flight crews, with former British champions, battling European and World title holders for glory at the first of seven action-packed rounds in 2024. Each bidding to add their name to a prestigious roll of honour that includes legends of the sport such as Ari Vatanen, Roger Clark, Hannu Mikkola, Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
A recently announced enhanced media package for the UK’s premier rally championship will include a dedicated one-hour highlights show on ITV4 and availability on the accompanying online catch-up service ITVX during the season, giving unrivalled visibility across the UK and Republic of Ireland to drivers, events, and partners.
The revitalised championship has seen an unprecedented level of registrations for the season ahead with the series top category featuring a host of BRC1 rivals in Rally2 four-wheel-drive machinery set to do battle at the front of the field. They are joined by the Junior BRC category which will showcase the talents of progressive youngsters in Rally4 specification two-wheel-drive cars. Support classes are also bolstered this year, with BRC4 and BRC3 well received, each vying for a British title marker.
Meanwhile, the Open Title and National Rally Title offer the challenge of longer top-drawer rallies, plus recce for non-homologated vehicles, each battling it out for a title of their own.
The Legend Fires North West Stages is a new event on the BRC roster and offers a largely unknown prospect for contenders to bag a confidence-boosting start to the season. Its ten stages on the closed roads surrounding its Garstang rally base offer a dynamic mix of tight country lanes and fast and flowing moorland roads. Bravery and commitment will need to be deployed to eke out an early advantage as crews lock horns for almost sixty competitive miles across the Lancashire roads.
The Classes: BRC1
It’s 2019 FIA European Rally Champion Chris Ingram and co-driver Alex Kihurani who will lead the teams over the start ramp in their Volkswagen Polo GTi. The Manchester-born contender won the event last year and returns to defend his number one seed. Having spent a number of years in the ultra-competitive World Rally Championship, he will likely be the marker for many to follow.
But there is an impressive field of top-line crews eager to stand on the top step of the round one podium, and four-time BRC champion Keith Cronin [Ford Fiesta Rally2] makes a bid to equal Jimmy McRae’s five titles and has Mikie Galvin on the notes, whilst 2022 champion Osian Pryce also returns to the fold, this time in a Fiesta Rally2 and Rhodri Evans in the co-driver’s seat.
Welshman Meirion Evans makes a comeback to the series after concentrating on the Irish Championship and has Jonathan Jackson alongside. Rounding out the breathtaking top five, are 2021 Junior British Champions and reigning FIA Junior World Rally Champions William Creighton and Liam Regan, leading the M-Sport charge in the process. The pairing will use the BRC as additional seat time for their WRC2 campaign and head up a three-car M-Sport squad.
The McRae name returns to the series in more ways than one this season, as Max – son of 1995 BRC champion Alister pilots an M-Sport Fiesta Rally2 with co-driver Cameron Fair. Cousin Hollie McRae – daughter of rally legend Colin - will also be on the BRC tour as she becomes one of the presenters for the TV highlights show. Last year’s BRC runner-up Garry Pearson joins McRae and Creighton in the M-Sport team, with Daniel Barritt alongside.
James Williams aims for a full assault on the series this season after taking his first BRC win at Rali Ceredigion last year, this time with new co-driver Ross Whittock. Callum Black signs up for BRC1 in his Fiesta Rally2 with Jack Morton, whilst Ollie Mellors and Ian Windress bring further variety to the class with their Proton Iriz.
Further contenders include national asphalt ace Neil Roskell [Fiesta Rally2], rapid youngster Elliot Payne [Fiesta Rally2] and the experienced Hugh Hunter [Fiesta Rally2]. Reigning National Rally Title champion Alan Carmichael and Junior British Champion Kyle White uphold Hyundai honours in a two-car i20 ensemble, meaning a total of fourteen crews will be fighting for top spot in BRC1,
An open tyre formula from approved manufacturers Michelin and Pirelli adds another layer of intrigue to a field already overflowing with talent; picking a winner at this stage of the Probite BRC is nearly impossible!
Junior British Rally Championship, BRC3 and BRC4
Fighting for the coveted title and the chance to secure free entries to the 2025 British Rally Championship events; a package worth over £6,000, the Junior BRC provides the ultimate proving ground for young drivers under 27 years of age.
With Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup contenders set to bolster the series at round two, it’s Robert Proudlock and co-driver Steven Brown who lead the charge in their Peugeot 208 Rally4. Making the switch from older R2 machinery to the latest specification sees the rapid young Scot tackle the Junior BRC for the first time.
Chasing him down will be Casey Jay Coleman and Lorcan Moore who are no strangers to the series after tackling last year's championship in a Fiesta. They return equipped with a Peugeot 208 and will be aiming to add to their 2023 Ypres Rally win. They will be playing their bonus-point inducing Joker, offering up to five bonus points per round. Kalum Graffin will contest his first multi-venue event in the UK and at just 17 years old, is one of the youngest in the series. With co-driver Richard Crozier, Graffin has added the Junior BRC title to his plans this season as well as the Stellantis Cup.
The BRC3 category gains momentum in 2024, with sealed surface expert William Hill throwing his hat into the ring in his Fiesta Rally3 and Peredur Wyn Davies in the co-driver seat. He will be chased by last year's BRC4 champion Stephen Waugh who steps up into four-wheel-drive and a Fiesta Rally3, and is joined by Adam Westerby.
BRC4 features the same class as the Junior BRC, but outside of the age cut-off and is spearheaded by James Lightfoot and Ula Budzynska in their Ford Fiesta R2T.
Open Rally Title
The home for Rally2 and R5 cars running outside of their homologation, the new Open Rally Title category will see event sponsor John Stone lead the way in his Volkswagen Polo GTi with Laura Marshall in the co-driver's seat. John Rintoul and Ross Hynd bring their Fiesta to the category, as will fellow Scot and three-time National champion John Morrison, with Max Freeman alongside. Roger and Tommi Henderson make the trip from Cornwall in their Fiesta Rally2.
National Rally Title
A hotbed of action is expected in the revised National Rally Title, ensuring the more powerful machinery is separated from the other classes, offering reduced registration fees and the bonus of recce. This brings a wealth of variety including the Darrian T90 GTR of Wayne Jones and Dafydd Evans, and the stunning Nissan Sunny F2 of Chris Butcher and Jonathan Hawkins.
The Ginetta G40 of Nick Heard and Oliver Mathinson will be a unique sight, whilst William Mains makes a welcome comeback in his Vauxhall Nova with Tomos Whittle. Stephen Cotton and Michael Birchall will pilot a Subaru Impreza, with Nathan Bolton and Phil Kenny opting for a Mitsubishi EvoIX.
BRC Championship Manager Reece Tarren is counting the days until the first round: “This sensational BRC entry list is the culmination of a lot of hard work to give a shot in the arm to the championship and rallying as a whole over the last few months" he says.
"Our calendar offering and reinvigorated media package have attracted global attention and really looks to put the BRC back where it belongs. Just glance at the top twenty and I think it's safe to say it's one of the best entry lists I`ve ever seen on a national event, and that can only be a good thing for the series and motorsport in general. I'm extremely eager to watch the opening round unfold and watch the season play out across six top-drawer rallies. The BRC really is back.”
The new-look BRC will take in six events and seven rounds, with an even split of asphalt and gravel during the season. Some of the most iconic special stages will see the country’s best drivers in the best cars fight for overall supremacy on the best events, with the action captured on the ITV4 and ITVX highlights programme.
Sportity
Posted: March 21, 2024 4:19 PM
Callum Black/Jack Morton face stiff rivalry as his Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship title defence begins on the North West Stages
Posted: March 21, 2024 4:12 PM
Callum Black and Jack Morton will begin their defence of the Motorsport UK Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship titles next weekend when they contest the opening round of the 2024 series – the Legend Fires North West Stages (22/23 March) – in their 586 Sports-prepared and Pallas Connections-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Callum has never contested the event before, but that’s unlikely to slow him – after all, last year was his first appearance on asphalt for 10 years and he not only won the title but was the only driver to score maximum Protyre Asphalt points on more than one round, with his four victories on the Manx National (Day 2), Dunoon Presents Argyll Rally and both days of the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion helping him to an 11-point title win.
A record 159 registrations (93 drivers and 66 co-drivers) have been received for this year’s premier sealed-surface series – including twice runner-up Neil Roskell, who will be partnered by the 2022 winning co-driver Dai Roberts in their Michelin-shod ND Civils/Lomand Plant Hire/Hauraton Drainage Products/Witham Motorsport Fiesta Rally2.
The Blackpool driver will be hoping to make a better start to the season this time, with nothing but maximum points in his sights.
The 2022 Protyre Asphalt driver’s champion Steve Wood returns in his Citroën C3 Rally2, and his Irish closed road rally experience will come in handy as he and co-driver Kenny Hull hit the Lancashire lanes.
James Ford/Neil Shanks have also had some great runs on both sides of the Irish Sea and will be quick in their Citroën C3 Rally2, as will David Wright/Paula Swinscoe in their Fix Auto/Grove Hill Garage/Dampertek Ford Fiesta R5.
His rivals consider him one of the title favourites, but Mark Kelly is playing down his chances in this year’s Protyre Asphalt Championship.
The Bolton ace has an extremely good rally win to rallies contested ratio, and finished runner-up in the 2021 Protyre Asphalt series – but he still lacks the experience of his opponents, is still getting to know his Kelmore-supported Škoda Fabia R5 and is making his first full-time return to the series since a big accident in Argyll two years ago. Mark had a relatively quiet year in 2023 – although it did include victory on the Tour of Epynt, Hills Ford 3 Shires and five other single venue events – and 2024 started extremely well with victory on the East Riding Stages. This year Mark will be co-driven by Will Atkins.
North West Stages event sponsor John Stone has been an Asphalt Championship frontrunner for 20 years and, together with co-driver Laura Marshall, will be pushing hard in his immaculate Legend Fires Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
Predicting an opening round Protyre Asphalt winner is impossible, as you cannot discount the likes of Hugh Hunter/Rob Fagg (Robert Hunter & Son Tarmac/Lewis & Hunter Contracting Fiesta Rally2), Kevin Davies/Owain Davies (Cobra Hydraulics Volkswagen Polo GTI R5), Hugh Brunton/Drew Sturrock (Škoda Fabia Rally2), Stephen Simpson/Mark Glennerster (Tudor Glass Fiesta Rally2), Wayne Sisson/Michael Hendry (AMS Arnside Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo 10) – to name but a few.
There will also be a tremendous battle among the classes.
Defending class B13 and Escort Challenge champion Darren Atkinson is back, this time co-driven by Simon Walling, in his rapid Haldane Fisher Escort Mk2 – and will resume his battle with the likes of Brad Cole/Jamie Vaughan (Hydroline Solutions Escort Mk2).
Aled Wyn Morgans will make his Protyre Asphalt debut in his KGP-powered 2.5-litre Ford Escort Mk2. The Aberystwyth driver won the AWMMC Heart of England Championship in the car in 2022 and will be co-driven by Ian Taylor.
Also out in Escorts are Huw James/Lewis Sim, Gordon Montana Morrison/Ian Parker, Dave Willett/John Davies, Oliver Davies/Jack Bowen, Matt Turner/Fiona Crump, Richard Cookson/Jonathan Cragg, Peter Jackson/Sam Spencer, Geoff Roberts/Steve Hallmark, Mathew Dance/Jason Davies and Paul Evans/Callum Young.
Reigning class B11 champion Michael Harbour, co-driven by Cameron Dunn, also returns in his two-litre Vauxhall engined VS Pro Pressure Washing Services/Miller Waste Water Escort Mk2. He’ll be battling for the title with the likes of Geoff Glover/Keith Barker (Vauxhall Astra RWD), Mal Boyd/Chris Sanderson (Winsford MOT Centre Escort Mk2) and Nick Heard/Oliver Mathison (Ginetta G40).
William Hill put in some giant-killing performances last year in his Hills Ford Fiesta Rally3 to finish fourth in the overall drivers’ standings. He’s back in his four-wheel drive 1.5 litre EcoBoost engined M-Sport built car, this time co-driven by Peredur Wyn Davies.
After a three-year sabbatical from rallying, Chris West returns in his rapid Peugeot 306 Maxi. Co-driven by Keith Hounslow, the Buckinghamshire driver will be out for two-wheel drive honours and hopes to take the fight to the top four-wheel drive cars when conditions suit.
Other Protyre Asphalt crews to look out for include Roger Moran/Daniel Petrie (Moran Motorhomes Fabia R5), Mark Holmes/Mark Perryman (Mark Holmes Auto Engineering Fiesta R5), Roger Duckworth/Alun Cook (Fiesta R5), Chris Ford/Neil Colman (Citroën C3 Rally2), Roger and Tommi Henderson (DKMS We Delete Blood Cancer Fiesta Rally2), Adrian Spencer/Ashley Trimble (RED Industries/Adgespeed Subaru Impreza), John Forrest/Ashleigh Will (Literal Ink Fiesta Rally2), Jonathan Mounsey/Richard Wardle (JD Mounsey/3 Peaks Cycles/JDM Models Fiesta R5), Chris Butcher/Jonathan Hawkins (Severnside Defibs Nissan Sunny GTI F2), Mike English/Andy Robinson (Proact/Simmex/Kwiktrak/Telematic Solutions Fiesta Rally2), Richard Slinger/Mark Twiname (Mitsubishi Evo 6), Rob Hughes/Sion Cunniff (CSG Motorsport Fiesta R5), James Labey/Robbie Hannah (Weaver Motorsport Fiesta Rally2), Darrell Taylor/Dylan Thomas (Dom Buckley Motorsport Fiesta Rally2), Wayne Jones/Dafydd Evans (A Jones & Sons Tarmac Contractor/E&M Motor Factors/Nantycaws Filling Station Darrian T90 GTR), Ant Eaton/Ian Jackson (Autotest Fiesta R5), Nathan Bolton/Phil Kenny (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Sam Touzel/Aaron Nicolle (Fiesta Rally2), Lee and Cole Hastings (John Gibson & Sons Subaru Impreza), Sean and Colin Quigley (Ashley Group/RallyWorld Fiesta R5), Kalum Graffin/Richard Crozier (KG Motorsport/Kilmac Group/Lyons Road Transport/Woodland NI Peugeot 208 Rally4), Rory McCann/Paul McCann (Metalways Honda Civic), Kyle Casement/Liam McCann (Citroën C2), Max Murray/Matty Owen (Citroën C2), Tim Cole/David Sutcliffe (BMW E36 Compact), Bobby MacDonald/Martin MacCabe (Subaru Impreza) and Nikki Addison/Iain Thorburn (Honda Civic).
Class B9 champions Mark and Andrew Constantine (CBS Vauxhall Corsa) will resume their battle with Nicky Cowperthwaite/Helen Hall (Cowperthwaite’s Garage/H&K Travel Opel Corsa) and the rapid Simon Hunter/Howard Pridmore (Kwiktrak Vauxhall Corsa S1400).
Former Scottish Ladies’ rally champion Ashleigh Morris (co-driven by Emma Morrison) returns in her Fiesta R200. Having finished runner-up in the R2 class last year, she is aiming to beat the reigning class champions Archie Swinscoe/Jane Nicol (Rallytech Vauxhall Adam) this time.
The 2024 Legend Fires North West Stages begins with a ceremonial start in Garstang High Street on the evening of Friday 22 March – followed by 11 challenging closed road stages totalling 65 miles the following day.
Castrol teams up with Melvyn Evans Motorsport to launch new Castrol MEM Rally Team for 2024 British Rally Championship using Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
Posted: March 21, 2024 4:07 PM
Castrol, a global leader in lubricants, announced today its partnership with Melvyn Evans Motorsport (MEM) UK, to form the new Castrol MEM Rally Team, that’s set to compete in the 2024 Probite British Rally Championship (BRC). The team will showcase their talent with a pair of Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 cars adorned in the iconic Castrol rally livery.
Meirion Evans, along with co-driver Jonathan Jackson, will pilot the first car in the UK’s premier rally series – beginning with the North West Stages this weekend (22/23 March). After strong performances in Ireland on asphalt in recent years, Meirion tried his hand at the Wyedean Stages Rally in the Forest of Dean last year and showed equally good speed on gravel. This has resulted in the Welshman stepping up to concentrate on the BRC in 2024.
The second car is slated for delivery ahead of the third round and will be driven by the 2019 FIA European rally champion Chris Ingram and co-driven by the American ace Alex Kihurani. The cars have been built by Toyota Gazoo Racing in Finland and will be maintained and run in the UK by Melvyn Evans Motorsport – a two-time BRC Teams champion.
The new Castrol MEM Rally Team paid tribute to Castrol’s rich rallying history with Toyota, displaying the ex-Carlos Sainz Castrol Toyota GT-Four ST185 owned by Nicky Grist at their launch event held at the Rolls of Monmouth country estate.
Nicola Buck, chief marketing officer, Castrol, said: “This partnership marks a thrilling chapter in our racing legacy, as we join forces with Melvyn Evans Motorsport UK to unleash the potential of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 cars. Racing with Castrol lubricants in an extreme rally environment demonstrates the confidence we and our customers have in delivering high performance.”
Meirion Evans said: “This opportunity is the most exciting one I've had in my career to date. For us as a team to be trusted by Toyota Gazoo Racing to bring the first Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 into the UK means a lot to us and to re-establish the iconic Castrol Toyota link and livery is phenomenal, not only for us but for rallying in this country. To have Chris [Ingram] as part of the team is fantastic. We have been friends since we were both very young, so to get the opportunity to finally work together and represent a brand like Castrol is something we are both excited for. It will be a bit of a change for me having driven a Polo for the last few years, but we will try to adapt as quickly as possible to the Yaris so that we can chase results from the outset in what is undoubtedly the strongest field the BRC has seen in over ten years.
Chris Ingram said: “It’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to drive in Castrol colours in the prestigious British Rally Championship in the latest Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, prepared by the esteemed British team Melvyn Evans Motorsport. The British Rally Championship’s announcement that it will be covered by ITV will provide a huge boost to UK motorsport and our partners. To represent such an iconic brand is a huge opportunity and I am going to give it my best shot. Including my team-mate Meirion Evans, we are going to face serious competition from some of the UK and Ireland’s best drivers. No driver in history has ever won both the British Rally Championship and the European Rally Championship, so that is my ultimate ambition for the season ahead.
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