07-08-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
William Creighton ready to pull out all the stops to secure Grampian Forest title
The UK competition makes its return after a short summer break, with Creighton and his Castrol MEM Rally team-mate Meirion Evans provisionally tied at the top of the standings.
Creighton won the opening East Riding Stages in February and completed April's Carlisle Stages in second to keep his scoreboard ticking over before family commitments meant he had to sit out the Jim Clark Rally with Liam Regan and nominate it as a dropped score.
Joining them on the Grampian entry list is round two winner Romet Jürgenson and former Scottish Rally champion Garry Pearson, with both using M-Sport's Ford Fiesta Rally2 car.
'We are all looking forward to the Grampian,' said Creighton, whose car – like every other on the entry list – will carry commemorative sun strips and decals in tribute to the late Dai Roberts, who succumbed to injuries sustained while competing on May's Jim Clark Rally.
'The rally has great stages that offer a bit of everything and, although this year's event will use a much different layout compared to last season, we have good experience with the characteristics of these roads, so that should help us.'
Creighton banked some all-important seat time at the non-championship counting Nicky Grist Stages last month and held on to win the gravel fixture by less than three seconds having led it from the opening stage.
In soaring temperatures that accelerated tyre wear, he recorded a second win of the season aboard his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 despite dropping more than 10 seconds on the deciding test to Evans.
'We have worked hard between events with the team, and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, to try and understand where we can improve,' revealed the 27-year-old Moira man. 'Events like the Nicky Grist Stages have helped us continue to learn how to get the most from the Yaris and develop my own performance on gravel.
'The competition in the British Rally Championship is incredibly tight, so it is all about fine margins. We will do everything we can to fight for another strong result at the Grampian this weekend.'
Based in Banchory, the Grampian Forest Rally gets underway on Friday afternoon with the first of two stages, including a new Spectator Special, followed by a further eight on Saturday that will incorporate fast and flowing forest roads 15 miles west of Aberdeen.
