Image source, Red Bull Content PoolImage caption, William Creighton will drive for Stellantis Motorsport in the European Rally Championship
ByAndy GrayBBC Sport NI Journalist- Published2 hours ago
Reigning British champion William Creighton says it is the "right step" to step up into the European Rally Championship.
The 28-year-old, who is a former Junior British and World champion, starts is season in Andalucia in Spain from 17-19 April.
After two wins and two further podiums in his title-winning British Rally Championship campaign last year, Creighton said he is excited to move up to the "next level".
"It's a very high level of the sport, so it's going to be a big challenge.
"We would have loved to be doing more international events last year, but we wanted to use the British Rally Championship as an opportunity to get that title and then move back into European events, and that's worked quite well."
"Fingers crossed we can do a good job this year."
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Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan will compete for Stellantis Motorsport in the ERC, and will start the season in a Citroen C3 before switching to a Lancia midway through the season, and he will run Michelin tyres throughout the campaign.
After the season opener in Spain, the series will have rallies in Sweden, Rome, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The campaign ends in the autumn with Rali Ceredigion in Wales before the final event in Portugal in October.
"We've got really good brands with a huge heritage there of success within the sport,' said Creighton, who grew up on his family's farm and started his sporting journey with horses, before switching to a different type of horse power.
"Hopefully we can feed off all of those people and use it to our advantage.
"Just to be in the ERC to begin with is really exciting, but it puts us in a good position to do a good job, which is very important."
Image source, William CreightonImage caption, Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan will compete in a Citroen before switching to Lancia mid-season
Creighton warmed up for the ERC opener in Spain by taking part in Rallye da Llana , where he finished in seventh place.
Two other drivers from Northern Ireland, Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong, are currently competing in the top tier of the World Rally Championship for M-Sport, with the backing of Motorsport Ireland.
While his immediate focus is on the ERC, Creighton says his long-term goal is to make it back onto the world stage.
"The guys at the top level of the sport are getting younger and younger, so you need to strike while you can," Creighton said.
"The rules and the sport as a whole at the top level are changing next year.
"We've got this opportunity now, we'll try and make the most of it and if it opens things up in the future, then that would be amazing."
Devine and Allen also entered
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Callum Devine is a two-time Irish Tarmac Rally champion
In a strong entry for drivers from Northern Ireland, Irish Tarmac Rally champion Callum Devine will also compete in Spain while ERC regular Phillip Allen will also race this season.
Allen and co-driver Craig Drew will compete in a Toyota GR Yaris for , while Devine has been entered in a Skoda Fabia for JC Raceteknik alongside Noel O'Sullivan.
Devine previously drove in the ERC in from 2019 to 2021, including a podium on his debut in Hungary, and he says he is "really looking forward" to returning to the European stage.
"It's always great for a driver to compete against Europe's best on some iconic events," said the 31-year-old.
"We've had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events.
"I'm delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I'm looking forward to working closely with them."
