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Sweet taste of Success

Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors were this evening crowned British Rally Champions 2009 bridging a 35 year gap since 1974 when the legendary Billy Coleman was the only other Irish driver to become Champion.
Their win came in fine style too, as they also swept to victory on the 'Trackrod' International Rally Yorkshire, when their closest championship rival, Mark Higgins, crashed out on the final stage. They went on to finish 21 seconds of ahead of Stuart Jones who made a Yorkshire return to the series.
The close battle that they had with triple British Champion began on the very first stage of the year in Wales in March when only 1.5 seconds separated them and it continued right to the last stage today, where a puncture for the Irish crew could have been enough to let Higgins take the title. It was a battle which saw both crews win three rallies and take two second places. They both had one non finish.
It would not have been possible to separate them were it not for the fact tht on the final round in Yorkshire points awarded are at a multiple of 1.5 of those on other events. This ensured that the Championship went down to the wire as  whoever finished in front in Yorkshire would take the laurels.
Higgins changed to a more modern car for the final encounter as he had learned earlier in the year that this West Cork man is difficult to beat on gravel. However, as early as on the opening stage, Cronin took a 13.2 second lead over his rival. He added another 3 seconds on the next stage and .7 on the third one before Higgins managed to pull back .2s on stage 4. Cronin continued to set the pace and entering the final stage his lead had grown to 36 seconds. The difference was then irrelevant when Higgins crashed out and Cronin was met at the stage end by about 40 jubilant fans who were on hand to congratulate the new BRC Champions.
Speaking at the finish he stated that he was disappointed that Mark Higgins had crashed and that he hoped that the crew were ok. He went on tho thank his family who have been so supportive of him in his rallying and also navigator Greg Shinnors for keeping him in check on occasions.. He also thanked his good friend,sponsor, and mentor, Mick Cremin ,of Cremin Coaches. Colm Grant of TTEC Rally Prep, who prepared the car meticulously prior to each event and kept it running smoothly. He also wished to thank each and every member of his Supporters Club without whom he would have been unable to attempt the Championship.

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Keith Cronin takes British Rally Championship
Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors set a blistering pace on International Rally Yorkshire to not only take their third gravel victory of 2009, but with it secure the MSA British Rally Championship at their first attempt.
The battle with season-long championship rivals Mark Higgins and Bryan Thomas was all-but won on the first of the day’s nine stages, where the 23 year old from County Cork took thirteen seconds of the triple British rally Champion. Sadly on the last stage, any hope of a late chance for Higgins was quashed when his Pirelli TEG Sport Impreza left the road at high speed.
Cronin’s victory is the first for an Irish driver since 1974, when Billy Coleman took the title at the wheel of a Ford Escort. His reaction at the finish was typically calm, “It hasn’t sunk in yet, but we knew we had the pace on this event, having competed here last year. It’s a shame Mark (Higgins) went off on the last stage and I hope they are OK, but to take the title against such an excellent driver is fantastic.”
Stuart Jones and Andy Bull made an excellent comeback to the BRC, beating both Higgins and Cronin on four of the day’s nine stages to take a well deserved second place overall. The times set in the borrowed Team JRM Lico Evo 10 were sufficient to secure the final place in the Pirelli Star Driver Final too, impressing the judges with a controlled but quick drive.
The fifth driver to take third place in 2009 was an elated Jonny Greer, he and Kirsty Riddick having an untroubled day aside from a puncture early on. The Ulsterman has been in the chasing pack of young drivers all season, his pace improving throughout. This first BRC podium is certainly well deserved on such a demanding event.
Promoted to fourth after Higgins’ accident were outgoing Pirelli Star Driver Adam Gould and co-driver Seb Marshall. They managed to get to grips with the older specification Impreza after swapping with Pirelli TEG Sport team-mate Higgins, their second fourth place sufficient to seal the MSA British Teams Rally Championship for the Carnforth based outfit.

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