Robert's Rally Buzz - September 2024

Cronin Tightens ITRC Grip

A dominant win on last month’s Ulster Rally for Keith Cronin has put the Ford Fiesta Rally2 driver in pole position to claim the 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship with just one round remaining. Only Derry’s Calum Devine can now challenge the County Cork man for the title.

The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally was based in Newry Co.Down for the fourth year. There were 10 closed-road stages between Banbridge and Newry. Despite losing its status as a round of the British Rally Championship this year, the Northern Ireland Motor Club event had a strong entry of almost 100 competitors. Perhaps disappointingly, there were only 11 starters in the top Rally2/R5 category.

Confined to just a single day’s action, the 2024 Ulster still provided an extremely tough challenge for the crews in changeable conditions. Welshman Matt Edwards set the pace on stage one Shinn Bridge. The previous winner was fastest in his Fiesta Rally2. Then Cronin went quickest on SS2 and when Edwards crashed out on SS3 the Corkman proceeded to dominate, only challenged by Calum Devine’s Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. Josh Moffett finished a distant third in his Citroen C3 Rally2. Best of the two-wheel-drive competitors were Damian Toner/Aodhan Gallagher in their Ford Escort Mk.2 who finished in 8th place.

Altogether there were 87 starters and 52 finishers. A separate Ulster Junior and Micra Challenge Rally covering 7 stages had just 7 starters and 6 finishers (five Nissan Micra’s and one Honda Civic)

BMMC/BRMC members were on Ulster Rally duty. We covered rescue, timekeeping, refuelling and radio cover. Victor and myself were covering finish radio on SS2/7 Banbridge North. The weather with us was good all day but other stages had some heavy rain showers. Both tests ran without much difficulty. On the first run a competitor crashed and the stage was halted for a time while the crew were treated, apparently the co-driver injured his hand.

Can Will Win BRC For NI?

Moira’s William Creighton and his Belfast co-driver Liam Regan have a narrow lead in the British Rally Championship heading to the final round, the gravel Cambrian Rally in Wales next month. The M-Sport “works” Ford Fiesta Rally2 crew have just won the penultimate round, Rali Ceredigion, also in Wales, but on closed-roads. Their only challenge will come from former ERC Champion Chris Ingram in his new Toyota Yaris Rally2. The Englishman and his American co-driver Alex Kihurani are just ONE POINT behind the Ulster crew.

Rali Ceredigion (also a ERC event) was a BRC double-header with Ingram winning on day one, but he crashed out at 100mph on the second leg. Creighton failed to score points on the Saturday, due to punctures and a spin, but then won on Sunday with his M-Sport teammate, and fellow Ulsterman, Jon Armstrong second.

Armstrong actually won on the stages, but then, following instructions from M-Sport boss Rich Millener, took a time penalty at the finish control to allow title-chasing Creighton to claim top BRC points. Armstrong’s selfless act was much appreciated by William, who says he hopes to pay back Jon by going on to win the 2024 British Rally Championship!

IF Creighton is successful he “WILL” be the first driver from Northern Ireland to win the BRC! Good luck Will and Liam! It’s going to be close! Winner takes all? The Cambrian Rally runs on Saturday 26th October.

Rally Diary

Sat 7th Sept
Lakeland Stages Rally

• Round 2 of the 2024 McGrady Insurance NI Forest Rally Challenge.
• Round 4 of the 2024 Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship.

Organised by Enniskillen MC there are six gravel stages on the Trailer parts&spares.com Lakeland Stages Rally 2024; SS1/4 Conagher (2.39 miles)  SS2/5 Big Dog (2.45 miles) SS3/6 Ballintempo (the longest at 16.02 miles) Rally HQ and service are at Grosvenor Barracks in Enniskillen. We are covering rescue and radio points.

Sat 21st Sept
Bushwhacker Rally

• Round 3 of the 2024 McGrady Insurance NI Forest Rally Challenge.
• Round 5 of the 2024 Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship

Organised by Omagh MC, the 2024 McKelvey Asbestos Bushwhacker Rally uses three gravel stages run twice; SS1/4 Lough Bradan, SS2/5 Killeter and SS3/6 Carrickaholten. Rally HQ and the service park is in Omagh Showgrounds. We are covering rescue and radio points.

Sat 19th October
Dogleap Rally

• Round 4 of the 2024 McGrady Insurance NI Forest Rally Challenge

Organised by Maiden City MC. To celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary, and for the first time in almost 15 years, the Dogleap Rally returns to the gravel forest tracks of Cam (7.79 miles) and Springwell (5.32 miles) in Co.Derry. Both stages will run 3 times. The rally, which is sponsored by Premier Car Parts, is based in Ballykelly at the Shackleton Complex. We are scheduled to provide rescue and radio cover. More details next month.