CREALEY SHINES ON FOCUS DEBUT

Posted: February 7, 2005 2:06 PM

In preparation for their assault on this years MSA National Gravel Rally Championship, Crealey, from Portadown and Harris, from Sheffield, entered this weekends event in order to shake-down the new car.

For Crealey it was also an opportunity to become acclimatised to the sophisticated characteristics of a World Rally Car, having campaigned a Group N (near standard specification) machine for the past two years - he and Harris the reigning National Production Class Champions.

Photo: cwmi.net

However, Crealeys apprehensions towards his new machinery were soon dispelled when he and Harris went fastest on the first of Sundays 12 special stages - a tricky test through the Lightwater Valley Theme Park.

The rally then headed to the forests on the Western fringes of the North Yorkshire Moors where the team continued to set a pace good enough to see them at the front of the field. Even though the weather conditions made the gravel roads very slippery, the Ulsterman became increasingly confident with the handling and performance of his VRS Motorsport prepared Focus.

Then, on SS10, the engine stalled as Crealey negotiated a tight hairpin with the handbrake, the time taken to re-start the car seeing nearly half a minute lost.

Although it came as a surprise the engine stopping was not really a problem, it was re-starting the car that took the time, explained Crealey. There is a sequence you have to go through to start these WRC cars and Im not used to it yet, but as soon as we got going again everything was back to normal.

Although now in third place the team opted to maintain the position rather than attempt to recover the lost time, the event being a test for the season ahead and a dash for the lead was therefore deemed an unnecessary risk.

After covering a total of 42 competitive miles Crealey and Harris were pleased to cross the line in a comfortable third place, the event won by reigning Scottish Champion, Barry Johnson, with last years Riponian Rally winner, Kevin Proctor, in second.

Im very happy with the result and more importantly really happy with the car. said a satisfied Crealey at the finish. VRS have done a great job in getting the Focus just right, straight out of the box and as far as Im concerned for all of the team its a job well done this weekend. This event has provided us with invaluable experience in readiness for the season ahead.

Crealeys Focus is prepared and maintained by VRS Motorsport of Chesterfield and supported by: Superdrive Motorsport Centre, Dunlop Tyres and Shell Racing Fuels. Crealey is currently seeking further support and sponsorship for his 2005 campaign.

The MSA National Gravel Championship gets underway with the Bournemouth based Rallye Sunseeker on 25th & 26th February.

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28/01/05
CREALEY PREPARES TO CHALLENGE ON A NATIONAL SCALE
Current National Production Class Rally Champion, Brendan Crealey, gave his recently acquired Ford Focus World Rally Car its first serious test this week in preparation for his forthcoming assault on the MSA National Gravel Rally Championship.

Crealey, from Portadown, spent two days acclimatising to his new car at the Sweet Lamb forestry complex in Mid-Wales. With VRS Motorsport, the Chesterfield based team who prepare and run the Focus, on hand throughout the test, the car was accurately set-up to suit Crealey’s fast and determined driving style.

“I drove nearly 70 miles in the car, the equivalent of a National Championship rally and I’m now very pleased with the way the car handles and performs. It’s also given the Focus a good shakedown before the season starts to ensure everything is working properly and make the car as reliable as possible”, said Crealey.

As works driver for Mitsubishi in 2004, Crealey lifted the National Production title and as well as winning the Championship for near standard specification cars, his performance was good enough to record an impressive third overall finish.

However in 2005 Crealey aims for even higher ground in the overall standings and is intent on giving himself the best opportunity. Therefore, together with his regular co-driver Steve Harris, from Sheffield, he has entered next weekend's Riponian Rally, which takes place in the forests of the North Yorkshire Moors on Sunday 6th February.

“Although it’s imperative to test, you can’t beat real competition to get yourself up to speed and to check that all is okay with the car. I’m therefore entering next weekend’s event to ensure all is in place to give me the best chance of securing the overall National title”.

The MSA National Gravel Championship features seven events, the first being the Bournemouth based Rallye Sunseeker on 25th & 26th February.

Crealey's 2005 National rally programme is supported by: Dunlop tyres, Hella lights, Shell Racing Fuels, Superdrive Motorsports Centre and M-Sport.

• 2005 ANCRO MSA National Rally Championship

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19/11/04
Current National Production Champion, Brendan Crealey, has this week tested VRS Motorsport’s Ford Focus WRC, the car he intends to use in next year’s National Forest Rally Championship.

Having won the 2003 Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge, a highly competitive one make series for Group N Lancer Evolutions, Crealey, from Portadown, together with his co-driver Steve Harris, from Sheffield, were awarded a works drive with Mitsubishi Motors UK in 2004.

Their performance throughout the season saw them secure the Production Cup in the National Rally Championship with one round remaining. Their efforts were also good enough to see them finish the season in fourth place overall - an excellent result driving a near standard specification car against a host of other teams in highly modified WRC machinery.

With his Mitsubishi contract concluding at the end of this year (the Evo Challenge prize drive standing for one season only), Crealey feels he has some unfinished business to attend to and now targets even higher overall positions in 2005:

“The National Rally Championship has become very competitive and attracts some of the country’s top drivers in some of the best machinery. Having won the Production Category for the past two years I really would like to take a shot at the overall Championship and I believe this is the car that can help me do it.”

The ex-works 2001 Ford Focus will be maintained and run on events by Chesterfield based VRS Motorsport, the team that built and prepared the winning car in this year’s Mitsubishi Evolution Challenge.

Crealey’s first drive in the Focus took place at Blyton Airfield on Thursday (18th November), where he was able to get a brief taste of things to come:

“I’m impressed! It’s transmission is the most different feature to that of a group N car, which makes it handle very differently. Although I only drove the Focus a few miles I can see its potential. I’m going to need more time in the car to really get used to it, especially being left hand drive, but I can’t wait to get it into the forests.”

Crealey’s regular co-driver, Steve Harris, was also impressed following his first acquaintance with the Focus:
“Although it’s difficult to get a true picture on a wet and slippery airfield of what the Focus can really do, the car felt very good and I’m sure it won’t take much to get Brendan up to full speed. One thing’s for sure though, I’ve got an exciting year ahead!”

The team are currently in negotiation with sponsors and will announce further details of their campaign before the opening round in February.