Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver William Creighton claimed his first Probite British Rally Championship win last weekend, taking a convincing victory at the East Riding Stages Rally [23 February].
Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan got their 2025 BRC campaign and arrival in the Castrol MEM Rally Team off to the best possible start, winning seven out of the event’s ten stages to stand on the top step of the British Rally Championship podium for the very first time.
Threading his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 through the narrow, closed roads in Yorkshire, Creighton proved to be almost unstoppable, increasing the gap to his nearest rivals with every passing stage. Securing a five-second lead on the opening test, the Moira driver added to the buffer throughout the day, to emerge victorious and secure his first outright BRC victory.
“I don’t know what to say really,” said a jubilant Creighton.
“It’s our first rally in the car and we hadn’t done so much
in the Yaris
before the event and with such tricky conditions today, it just felt good; I’m happy for everyone supporting us”.
The East Riding Stages delivered a fast-paced challenge with 54 competitive miles spread across ten stages leaving little margin for error in its sprint-style format. A mix of stage characteristics and fluctuating grip levels added to the difficulty, while a damp start to the day made the moorland roads treacherously slippery.
But Creighton laid the marker down from the very first test, and at the halfway point, he had accumulated an 18-second lead from the four-time BRC champion Keith Cronin. Bedding perfectly into his new-for-2025 Yaris, Creighton continued to build the confidence.
After the only service of the day, the rain descended which changed grip levels dramatically. But still, Creighton delivered to increase the lead gap to well over 20 seconds and finally clinch a BRC win.
“I’m really excited for what’s to come in 2025” continued Creighton.
“It means a lot to win a round of the BRC, especially when you look at the names on the entry list this year. We came so close last season, so this feels good to finally get the job done. I honestly didn’t know what to expect or how long it would take us to gain that confidence with the car and the new Michelin tyres, but it felt great very early on”.
“A huge thanks to Liam for doing a great job on the notes today and keeping me on the straight and narrow. Thanks also to all our supporters, and of course the Motorsport Ireland Academy; without them, we wouldn’t be here. It’s a real honour to be wearing the Castrol colours and great to give them the win too.”
The next round of the British Rally Championship takes crews to Kielder Forest for the Carlisle Stages in April.
