Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography He was always likely to excel. Tarmac is his speciality, Irish tarmac his forte. But defending Irish Tarmac Rally Champion Keith Cronin didn't excel on round six of the 2017 Prestone MSA British Rally Championship: he breezed it. He may have finished Friday's first leg of action just 0.9 seconds ahead of fellow Fiesta R5 charger Osian Pryce, but the Irishman was never headed on the Ulster Rally to take his second win of the season on this, the second asphalt event of the year, setting up a title thriller with Sweden's Fredrik Ahlin on the Isle of Man next month. Cronin and co-driver Mikie Galvin took a while to adapt to the M-Sport Fiesta R5 after switching from the Citroen DS3 R5 that brought them little success in the BRC last year. But once the serious hit the tarmac in June for the Ypres Rally, the three-time champion came to the fore. He was just as dominant on home soil, mastering the treacherous conditions in commanding fashion. He has now leapfrogged Pryce as Ahlin's main challenger ahead of the final two points scoring rounds (with the Manx split in two), and with the added injection of a Joker to play, Fredrik can't be resting on his laurels. As it was, Ahlin was happy to take second, albeit almost a minute down on Cronin; content with his progression on the black stuff. Another podium finish following wins on the Border Counties, Pirelli International and Nicky Grist Stages cements his status as title favourite, but the Skoda man knows he won't have it easy on the Isle of Man. The consensus is though that it's his to lose, and the CA1 Sport pilot will be more than aware of this. Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography Osian Pryce however will feel that he should be the one heading to the infamous island in control of the British Rally Championship. Mechanical failures are of course part of this game, but had it not been for fuel issues aboard the Welshman's Spencer Sport Fiesta R5 on both the last two rounds, the championship lead could well have been his. Pryce retired from his home event while leading the rally and the championship, so was looking to make amends on the BRC's second overseas trip of the year. Switching from DMACK to Pirelli tyres, he and co-driver Dale Furniss ended Friday's action less than a second off the lead but would get too excited on Saturday's opener, clipping a wall. However, when lying second, what is suspected to be a fuel related issue sidelined the crew once again; a cruel blow for Pryce who has finished second in this championship twice before. It is still mathematically possible for the Welshman to bag the title, but he would need some cruel luck to befall Ahlin and Cronin. Pryce's retirement elevated the rest of the pack up a place, allowing Marty McCormack to take another podium back in his Skoda Fabia R5 after a one-off outing in a Fiesta on the Grist. This moved him back up to fourth in the championship ahead of Matt Edwards and Rhys Yates who both retired their Fords, with a fourth place on the event after costly punctures seeing Desi Henry lie ninth in the standings. The Juniors also provided plenty of interest. Title protagonists William Creighton (Peugeot 208 R2) and Callum Devine (Opel Adam R2) were expected to be the ones fighting it out in the Irish lanes, and indeed they were, with both using local knowledge to defy the tricky stage conditions. Devine however was sidelined with an alternator issue which paved the way for the impressive Creighton to take a second win of the year and an important one at that. He now holds a 13 point lead over Devine without considering drop scores, but crucially still has his Joker to play. This one will go down to the wire. As will the main battle. But perhaps the destiny of the 2017 BRC title is a little more clear cut. Stranger things have happened, but ever since Ahlin saw off Tom Cave on the opening round of the season, he has always seemed in control of this championship and he would be the deserving winner in Douglas if things go his way. Photo Credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
0 Comments
|
BRITISH RALLYINGArticles covering rally in Britain, looking at the MSA BRC Archives
September 2017
Categories |