Chris Ingram, Alex Kihurani and the Castrol MEM Rally Team are the 2024 Probite British Rally Championship Drivers’, Co-drivers’ and Teams’ Champions after scoring victory on the final round of the series, the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally (Saturday 26 October), in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
The 30-year old Monaco-based driver took the lead of the event with a sensational time through the opening Elsi stage and arrived at the midday service halt after four stages with a slender five second advantage over title rival William Creighton.
As the surface dried in the afternoon, Chris made the decisive decision to push on the drier penultimate Alwen stage – increasing his lead to an astonishing 19.4 seconds.
Having set the fastest time on the first six stages, just the famous Brenig stage remained and the Suisscourtage-backed driver made no mistake in the final run to the title as he set the second quickest time to secure rally victory by 20.8 seconds.
It’s the first time that Chris has become British rally champion – and adds that accolade to the FIA European Rally Championship title he won in 2019.
Team-mate Meirion Evans completed only his sixth gravel rally of his career in a top-flight four-wheel drive car without a major problem. He did clip a rock in the middle of the road on the opening stage, which upset his rhythm as he feared that he may have picked up a puncture, but that was the only distraction during an otherwise excellent outing.
Co-driven by Jonathan Jackson, the 29-year old Carmarthenshire driver was quicker over the repeat run of stages in the afternoon – some 10.6 seconds quicker in fact on the second pass through Clocaenog, to set the fifth fastest time and highlight his potential on the loose surface.
Each gravel round of the BRC has been a big learning experience for the Welshman, and the Cambrian was no exception as it once again contained stages Meirion had never rallied on before. Having been eighth after SS1, he climbed to sixth at the finish – netting yet another good result for himself and crucial title winning points for the team.
Chris Ingram said: “It was a tense fight for the BRC title on the Cambrian Rally, and William Creighton pushed us closely all day. I have to say congratulations to him and the M-Sport team for the immense battle – and congratulations to Osian Pryce and Keith Cronin who have been tough competitors all season too.
“To take my fourth BRC win of the season and become British rally champion in a Castrol Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 is a dream come true.
“I’m so proud to become the first driver in history to win both the British and FIA European Rally Championship titles overall and a big thank you to everyone who has supported me and is a part of this.
“I’m delighted for Alex, as he becomes the first American to win the British Rally Championship. I genuinely could never have done this without you bro!
“And with the Castrol MEM Rally Team winning the BRC teams’ title, we’ve achieved everything that we set out to do at the beginning of the year.”
Meirion Evans said: “It was a difficult rally to finish the British Rally Championship season, especially as I haven’t rallied on gravel for two months and after rallying on asphalt in Ireland for the past five years it’s a surface I’m still getting used to. That said, it all went pretty well and whilst there is a lot still to do our times on gravel are improving all the time.
“The aim of the Cambrian Rally was to come and win the BRC drivers’, co-drivers’ and teams’ titles, so it was mission accomplished. We achieved everything that we set out to do in 2024 and you really cannot do any better. It’s been a huge team effort and everyone pulling together has been key to our success.
“Congratulations to Chris and Alex on winning the British title – they have been outstanding all season and deserve to have their names on that famous trophy.”
