Estonia’s Romet Jürgenson announced his arrival in the British Rally Championship in emphatic style on Saturday, April 12, by taking a commanding victory at the Carlisle Stages. The reigning FIA Junior WRC champion and his co-driver Siim Oja were nearly untouchable across the fast and dusty trails of Kielder Forest, topping the timesheets on all but one of the event’s five stages.
Jürgenson, piloting a Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally2 for M-Sport, delivered a performance marked by both consistency and outright pace. His only moment of vulnerability came early in the day, when thick dust on the second stage allowed round one winners William Creighton and Liam Regan to briefly snatch the lead in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
But Jürgenson quickly reasserted his authority, reclaiming top spot on the first run through Buck Fell. When Creighton made a costly mistake at a chicane on the penultimate stage, Jürgenson capitalized, going 12.9 seconds faster than anyone else. From there, he controlled his pace to the finish, sealing his first overall BRC victory and a maximum points haul.
“Really happy to be honest, it finally has all come together,” Jürgenson said after the finish. “It’s a first-time victory and it is a really cool feeling. I have really enjoyed today… the win feels amazing and hopefully, we can continue to prove ourselves even more.”
Creighton, though disappointed to lose out, remained upbeat, particularly about his Yaris’ performance on gravel during his debut loose-surface outing in the car. Despite losing time cleaning the road and his costly error late in the day, he secured a solid second place to stay firmly in the title hunt.
The battle for third was just as intense. Garry Pearson and co-driver Hannah McKillop claimed the final podium spot after a tightly fought contest with Citroen C3 Rally2 driver Keith Cronin. When Max McRae, who had been running strong early, retired after SS2 with mechanical issues, Pearson found himself locked in a fight with Cronin—one that ultimately swung his way when Cronin’s car cut out on the penultimate stage, costing him over 40 seconds.
Pearson, recovering from a retirement in round one, was delighted with the result: “A hard-fought podium after what happened last time out—it means a lot.”
Callum Back, with Jack Morton on the notes, delivered a solid drive to fifth in another Fiesta Rally2, while Matt Hirst and Declan Dear brought their Skoda Fabia Rally2 home in sixth.
Meanwhile, James Williams and Ross Whittock earned praise for simply making it to the start line. After a major crash in the FIA European Rally Championship the previous weekend, their MRF Tyres Hyundai i20 N Rally2 was rebuilt in time for the event. While they faced a tough day overall, several top-five stage times showed their potential.
The return to the iconic and treacherous Kielder Forest for the first time since 2019 proved as brutal and rewarding as ever—50 miles of fast, narrow stages bordered by deep ditches that demanded precision and courage. On this occasion, it was Jürgenson who held his nerve and pace to perfection.
ARTICLE SPONSORED BY RALLYSTORE.EU
