After six breath-taking rounds of the Probite British Rally Championship, the race for the coveted title is all set to go down to the wire at the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally [26 October].
The legendary forests in North Wales which have captivated the hearts and souls of rally fans and drivers for decades as part of Wales Rally GB, will play host to what promises to be a scintillating battle for the BRC crown, with four drivers in with a chance of etching their names on the prestigious trophy.
With rallying royalty such as Colin McRae, Richard Burns, Stig Blomqvist, Ari Vatanen and Elfyn Evans scribed in the silver base, the stakes are high for the BRC contingent and the duel out on the stages will be electrifying.
The importance of a top score at the Llandudno-based event cannot be underestimated, as the points are worth one and half times the normal amount, adding further jeopardy to the already unpredictable race for the title.
And it’s not just the coveted BRC crown that’s up for grabs. The Cambrian is also the decider in the ultra-competitive Junior British Rally Championship, the BRC Teams Championship, the National Rally Title and Open Title, meaning many bottles of champagne will be sprayed on Llandudno seafront on Saturday evening.
Wins at the North West, Grampian and Ceredigion’s opening leg mean 2019 FIA European Champion Chris Ingram has made it stick this season and is firmly in the race for the title. Now it’s a fight to the stop boards of the final Cambrian stage for him, co-driver Alex Kihurani and their Michelin-shod Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
But discount William Creighton at your peril. The British and World Junior champion has been consistent all season with second places in the opening three rounds of the season.
Punctures hampered his Grampian and Ceredigion effort but thanks to his and co-driver Liam Regan’s steadfast run of form in their Pirelli-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2, they are Ingram’s closest challenger.
The two contenders are in the primary battle for the crown and if Ingram finishes second or third, Creighton must win to take the title, made slightly easier by the fact he will play his bonus points-inducing Joker in Wales.
Meanwhile, four-time BRC champion Keith Cronin, co-driver Mikie Galvin and 2022 title holder Osian Pryce, with co-driver Rhodri Evans, are not out of the running either.
Whilst it will take misfortune for Creighton or Ingram for the others to prosper, the North Wales stages are not known for being kind and either of the Fiesta Rally2 aces could well land another title to their name. The odds are not stacked in their favour, but when has a BRC title been a simple affair?
The Junior BRC champion will also be crowned on Llandudno seafront and its home-grown hero Ioan Lloyd/Sion Williams [Peugeot 208 Rally4] who is chasing down leader Robert Proudlock/Steven Brown [Peugeot 208 Rally4] for the coveted title, but technically any one of six progressive youngsters can still claim the honour.
Much like its BRC cousin, the Open Title and National Rally Titles are up for grabs in a thrilling final-round showdown. John Rintoul/Ross Hynd are in the box seat of the Open category in their Fiesta and with many rivals electing to skip the final round, could well seal the honours with a solid score.
