Hat-trick of wins for Cronin brothers on memorable weekend

IT was a memorable weekend for the Cronin Motorsport dynasty with Keith and his youthful brothers, Robert and Colin, all profitable on their respective rally and karting outings.  

Keith secured a significant victory within the Voyonic Grampian Rally in Scotland, spherical 4 of the British Rally Championship, to regain management of his future in his bid for a record-equalling 5 British Rally Championship wins. 

In Tynagh, in spherical 4 of the Motorsport Eire Karting Championships, Colin received the IAME X30 class to maneuver within the lead of the sequence with two occasions remaining. His older brother Robert took his first-ever win in a spherical of the Rotax Senior Max Championship to maneuver inside ten factors of the championship high spot.

Previous to the Grampian Rally, Keith underlined the significance of taking a win regardless that he led his arch rival Welsh ace Osian Pryce by 11 factors. Nonetheless, with the sequence primarily based on the most effective 5 from seven occasions and on condition that Pryce already has two wins to his credit score earlier than final weekend, Cronin’s concern was comprehensible. 

However with a sterling efficiency the Ballylickey ace and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin took their VW Polo GTi R5 to a powerful victory. They led all by the six-stage occasion. They completed 21 seconds forward of the same automotive of their title rivals Welshman Osian Pryce, who had Killarney’s Noel O’Sullivan calling the notes. Londoner Ruari Bell and co-driver Max Freeman (Skoda Fabia R5) have been eight seconds additional behind in third following a remaining stage incident.

Cronin might be forgiven for pondering he was near residence with the primary stage within the Kincardineshire forests bearing the acquainted sounding title of Durris. There was no hesitation as he powered the VW Polo to a three-second stage win over the promising Bell (Skoda Fabia R5), whom he hoped would cut up him from title rival Pryce, who was an extra second behind.  

Rising in confidence, he emerged from the Drumtochty take a look at with a ten-second lead, however Pryce was put in in second. Cronin remarked that he wasn’t taking any dangers however the mud from Pryce’s VW Polo, which was working at primary, lingered within the Scottish air. Halfway by and with quickest time on Finglenny, Cronin prolonged his lead margin to 16 seconds.  

Bell and Pryce took three seconds from the Ballylickey ace on SS 4 (Scare Hill) to chop Cronin’s benefit to 13 seconds. On the re-group, Cronin stated: ‘It was a superb loop, I had a superb run on SS 3 however was in all probability a bit too cautious on SS 4. If it have been a tarmac rally you would handle it (the lead) however on gravel, there might be a rock on the highway and a puncture. There’s an extended approach to go but.’

Cronin set his fourth quickest stage time of the day on the penultimate stage (Strathgyle Wooden) as he added a second to his lead with Bell persevering with in second spot, a lot to Cronin’s benefit within the BRC title bid. Drama unfolded on the ultimate stage (Hurlie Lavatory) when Bell slid off the highway and right into a ditch, hitting a tree. 

He misplaced time and second place ,as Pryce took benefit to say the runner-up spot. Cronin sealed a effective win with the most effective time on the stage to file a 21-second victory. 

‘It’s nice to get the win,’ Cronin stated.

‘As I stated initially we actually wanted the win particularly as we’re heading into Wales for the subsequent spherical. He (Pryce) can be robust to beat there. We made a superb begin as we speak and have been in a position to handle it. It is my first win within the BRC on gravel for fairly some time (Pirelli Worldwide in April 2012) in order that was good too. The whole lot labored rather well, Mikie and all of the staff. 

We made just a few modifications from the final rally they usually clearly labored. It’s been an ideal day for us.’

Colin Cronin (left) and his older brother Robert (proper) loved karting wins.

In the meantime, in karting, in spherical 4 of the Motorsport Eire sequence in Tynagh, County Galway, it was additionally a profitable outing for each Colin and Robert Cronin.  

Within the Junior X30, Colin was in sensational type, profitable the primary warmth, third within the second warmth from 18th on the grid earlier than happening to win the pre-final. 

Within the remaining he took the chequered flag forward of Dubliner Michael Grey to maneuver into the lead of the sequence forward of the ultimate two rounds. Clonakilty’s Ronan Hennessy dropped to fifteenth following a bumper penalty.   

In the meantime, within the Rotax Senior Max, Robert received the opening warmth, was sixth in warmth two and took victory over Ben McFall within the remaining the place he led from begin to end. 

The factors garnered have moved him to 3rd within the sequence. He’s ten factors off high spot.

It was additionally a major victory because it was his first-ever win within the class. Clonakilty’s Aidan Hennessy completed thirteenth.

Within the Cadets, a bumper penalty relegated Ballymakeery’s Keith Grant to 14th.