Creighton set for gruelling Central European Rally

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver William Creighton will contest his final FIA World Rally Championship WRC2 event of the season next week [17-20 October], as he heads for the Central European Rally.

Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan will sample the unique all-asphalt event for the first time, taking their M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 across the gruelling four-day rally which spans three different countries, Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria.

The Moira driver has enjoyed a busy season behind the wheel of the M-Sport Fiesta, tackling both WRC2 and the Probite British Rally Championship. His last outing, saw him also dip his toe into the FIA European Rally Championship at Rali Ceredigion in Wales, which enabled him claim his first maximum score in the BRC.

That points haul puts him into a titanic tussle for the coveted BRC title at the final round, which returns to gravel straight after Central Europe, at the Cambrian Rally.

But first, Creighton is aiming to round out his WRC2 campaign on the tar and his focus will be on getting to grips with the unique stages, with each of the three countries providing their own style of stages. From tight and technical forest sections to the fast and flowing hillside moorland, the Central European Rally provides the ultimate asphalt test.

“It’s mad to think we are rounding out our WRC2 season already,” said Creighton.

“It seems to have really flown by and that’s probably because we have been really busy this year with both our WRC and BRC campaigns, but this is a really difficult rally to end our WRC year.”

Whilst it will be tough to expect Creighton to match his fifth place in WRC2 at Rally Latvia, he will be aiming for a positive end to the season.

“Our focus for the weekend ahead will be on bringing everything we have learnt this year together and being progressive each day. It’s been billed as one of the most difficult events on the calendar thanks to the changeable weather and very unpredictable road conditions, so staying out of trouble will be essential to a good result.”

Just a few days after the finish in Germany, he will then tackle the final BRC round of the season, where he heads to Llandudno in Wales in a four-way fight for the British title.

“It will be good to head there straight after Central Europe” he continues, “and although it’s a vastly different rally and surface, the seat time is important, and I can stay in the right head space. There are a lot of variables to the championship but of course, we will give it our best shot, but for now, our full focus is on the weekend ahead and continuing our WRC2 journey”.

The Central European Rally comprises over 300km of competitive driving spread over 18 stages, kicking off on Thursday with two stages in the Czech Republic, before staying in the country on Friday. Germany and Austria host Saturday’s longest leg, whilst four stages remain on Sunday on the German border ahead of the rally finish that afternoon in Passau.

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