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If you pay close attention, the famous woods of Clocaenog and Brenig still carry the remnants of Wales Rally GB’s past. Therefore, the Cambrian Rally seems like an appropriate closing event for the British Rally Championship.

Exactly 12 months since the title slipped away from William Creighton’s hands, the Northern Irishman ultimately corrected the mistakes of 2024. This time, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Creighton maintained a steady performance to finish in fourth place, which was sufficient to claim the championship following a season marked by reliability rather than brute force.

On the notorious North Wales gravel, he managed to hold off competitors Romet Jurgenson and Meirion Evans, securing his place alongside legends like Colin McRae, Richard Burns, and Ari Vatanen on the BRC trophy.

“What an incredible year,” remarked Creighton. “Starting from the Junior BRC to the Junior WRC and now this, it’s truly remarkable. Even though I missed a round, winning the championship is amazing.”

However, although Creighton celebrated a successful season, it was Max McRae who captured the spotlight. Twenty-seven years after his father Alister’s final BRC victory, and almost four decades after his grandfather Jimmy’s, Max delivered an impressive performance in his Skoda Fabia Rally2.

Engaged in a 24-hour battle against Jurgenson, McRae managed to regain time on the last stage, securing an unexpected win over the Estonian competitor. Spectators saw McRae create history with an incredible first overall BRC victory, marking a new milestone in the family’s rallying heritage.

Wow, that’s amazing,” McRae exclaimed at the end. “I don’t know what to say. I just stayed focused, and here we are.

The Junior BRC provided its own dose of final-round excitement as Kyle McBride secured the championship despite being behind competitor Joe Kelly for most of the competition. However, when Kelly faced a delay due to a slower vehicle in Clocaenog, the lead shifted to McBride’s benefit, helping him and co-driver Darragh Mullen claim the Junior BRC title.

It’s wonderful to finally secure it,” said McBride. “It hasn’t been an easy year in any way, but winning the Junior BRC has been our primary objective all season, and we’ve managed to accomplish it.