By East Yorkshire’s Monte Carlo rally equivalent, the 2025 East Riding Stages Rally despite inclement weather, high winds didn’t fail to provide stimulating action.
In-excess of 160 driver/co-driver partnerships participated in cars varying from WRC spec apparatus to good old Mini’s, Vauxhall Nova, Astra’s, countless old school Ford Escorts to the Darrian GTR package.
New names were added to the event winners list, with stage 1 to stage 10 leaders William Creighton/Liam Regan (Castrol MEM Toyota) storming to victory by almost twenty-four seconds over fellow Irish competitors, four times British rallying Champion Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Race and Rally Citroen).
James Williams/Ross Whittock (Orange Amplifiers/MRF Racing Hyundai) attained third, Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss made it two Castrol MEM Toyota’s in the top four.
Rounding out the top ten finishers were Callum Black/Jack Morton (UCRC China Rally Team), Estonia’s Romet Jurgenson/Siim Oja (M Sport), Neil Roskell/Rob Fagg.
Matt Hirst/Declan Dear, Elliot Payne/Patrick Walsh and Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke.
Outside the leader-board top ten, class C, D honours respectively were swooped up by Kyle McBride/Darragh Mullen, Kyle Adam/Steven Brown.
28th overall was bike racer turned four-wheel racing ace Kiaran Hankin (James Swallow co-driver).
Hankin (KH Tool Plant Hire – Citroen) for many years a front-runner at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough also was a Manx GP top six finisher (2006 Newcomers A race), top twenty Senior TT finisher in 2009.
As I stated last year and in previous years, for those located in and around East Yorkshire, the East Riding Stages Rally, represents a rare opportunity to watch public roads-based racing.
It’s an absolute breath of fresh air, mixing high octane motorsport with roads scene craft/vibes, a family friendly atmosphere, not to mention fish & chips at Beverley Westwood, for those who patiently waited in the long queues!
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
