Gutsy Grehan becomes British Historic Rally Champion with Carlisle win

Henri Grehan and Dan Petrie became the FUCHS LUBRICANTS British Historic Rally Champions after taking victory at the final round of the season, the Carlisle Stages Rally.

In his maiden season in the series, Grehan would head into the weekend locked in a fierce battle with three-time British Rally Champion Matt Edwards for the coveted crown and would need a solid finish to seal the title.

But after Edwards and co-driver Hamish Campbell failed to emerge from the fourth stage of the day in their FIAT 131 Abarth, Grehan took control of the rally and was able to cruise through the remaining two tests to not only take the BHRC victory on the event but become a champion in the process.

“When we started the year, I really didn’t know how we would go and I wanted to get back into it, back into the swing of things, but to do this [take the title], I don’t really know what to say,” said an emotional Grehan after the final stage. “I’ve got so many people to thank this season. There have been so many people that have put a huge effort into this season, I owe it to all the lads that have done so much to get us through the year. Well done to Dan [Petrie], he has been absolutely ace, and yeah, I'm absolutely delighted. I'm not really sure how it feels, it's going to take a while to sink in.”

Grehan has racked up the points this season in his Ford Escort MKII with a solid haul at every round, adding to a home rally win at the Woodpecker Rally. The consistency of his year paid dividends, and the plasterer from Shropshire can now revel in an impressive debut BHRC season.

However, he was pushed all the way by Edwards. Having taken his third BRC title, the Welshman looked to the BHRC for a new challenge and would spend the season developing the FIAT on the gravel stages. Having missed the opening round, a good run of form would be required, and he duly performed, taking three wins to take the title fight to the final encounter.

A win was required in Carlisle, but it would depend on where Grehan finished that would decide the championship outcome. Edwards was very much on course to take a fourth victory when an electrical issue in the FIAT forced him out of the event, and the title fight.

Behind the championship battle, the tussle for the remaining podium places was between the returning Adrian Hetherington and fellow Ford Escort MKII pilot Richard Jordan. Hetherington hasn’t been in the series since a crash in Wales but returned for a final foray in Kielder.

Despite a misfire at higher revs, the Northern Irishman battled on through the day as he and co-driver Ronan O’Neil grabbed second place on the final test.

A strong run from Jordan and James Gratton-Smith came slightly undone on the final stage, dropping from second place to fourth but it was an impressive pace from the duo who have been knocking on the door of the podium all season.

Richard Gough/Jack Bowen took the third spot, leapfrogging Jordan to put firmly behind them a tough Trackrod Rally which saw an off in Yorkshire hand Gough a zero score.

The BHRC also crowned its Category Two [cars between 1968-1975] champion as Chris Skill stormed to his third win of the season in his Ford Escort MK1, ensuring he could claim the crown.

An impressive season has seen Skill take the Escort to some top results but was pushed by the Pinto-powered MK1s of Josh Carr and Warren Philliskirk. Carr was determined to end the season on a high and fought as hard as he dared in the tricky conditions. Competing against Skill’s more powerful example, it was always going to be a tough ask and second place would be small consolidation for him and co-driver Richard Wardle.

Philliskirk enjoyed his run with a relaxed attitude to the day, taking third in the category with Garry Green alongside.

Bob Bean and Mike Curry maintained their one hundred per cent finishing record with a fairly trouble-free run through the muddy forests. A driver's door opening on its own was the only issue for the Category One [cars up to 1968] champions.

Details of the 2023 championship will be released shortly.
 
*All champions are provisional until final championship points are published and approved. Class and remaining champions will be published in due course.

For more information on any of the Championships promoted by the RACMRC, please visit:
www.racrmc.org