REPORT / CARLISLE STAGES 2025
09/05/2025WORDS BY ROB SAYER | PHOTOGRAPY ANDREW SCOTT & ROB SAYER
Jürgenson Shines in the Kielder Carlisle Stages for Maiden BRC Win
The 2025 British Rally Championship was reawakened for the second round of the season, the much-anticipated Kielder Carlisle Stages, which made their triumphant return to the BRC calendar for the first time since 2019.
Held on Saturday 12th April, this special event not only marked Round 2 of the BRC but also served as the opener for the Welsh Rally Championship and Round 2 of the British Historic Rally Championship (BHRC), stepping into the void left by the cancelled Severn Valley Stages, lost to the winter wrath of Storm Darragh. Fortunately, the Roger Albert Clark Rally Motor Club ensured a seamless integration into the calendar, retaining the original Severn Valley date.
Held in the notorious Kielder Forest, dubbed ‘Killer Kielder’ by many, the rally offered nearly 50 miles of competitive action across a selection of iconic and uncompromising gravel tests.
Legendary stages like Kershope and Buck Fell challenged even the most experienced crews with high speed sections, tight junctions and menacing ditches ready to punish the slightest misstep. With the forest basking under rare clear skies and no hint of rain, it was a near perfect setting for a day of world class rallying. However, the calm air left dust hanging between the trees, playing havoc with visibility and adding yet another layer of complexity.
Scenes From The Service Park | By Andrew Scott
LEG 1
Photo By Rob Sayer
The day kicked off with the 3.13 mile blast through Ash Park. A short, sharp wake up call for the crews. It was here that Estonian newcomers Romet Jürgenson & Siim Oja immediately laid down a marker, going fastest by 1.2 seconds in their M-Sport backed Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Second fastest was a resurgent Max McRae, co driven by Cameron Fair, proving that the disappointment of their East Riding DNF was firmly in the rear view mirror. Just behind, William Creighton & Liam Regan fresh from victory at Round one, were a further half second back in third place behind the wheel of their Melvyn Evans Motorsport run Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Photos By Andrew Scott
BRC stalwart Keith Cronin slotted into fourth, just half a second further behind, while the M-Sport pairing of Garry Pearson & Hannah McKillop closed out the top five. The leading quintet was separated by less than three seconds, an early sign of the intense battle ahead.
Photo By Andrew Scott
The rally’s complexion began to shift in the 12.26 mile Kershope test, one of the crown jewels of the Kielder complex. First on the road, Creighton made full use of the clean air to vault into the lead with a stage winning time 2.7 seconds faster than anyone else.
“It’s been a clean run,” Creighton reflected. “These are amazing stages. It is very slippery and you want to take more out of it, but you have to keep the reins on.”
Photos By Rob Sayer
James Williams, fresh from ERC heartbreak in Sierra Morena, endured yet more misfortune. Just three corners into Kershope, a puncture forced him to stop and change a wheel, costing over three minutes and triggering a domino effect behind him.
While Callum Black benefitted from improved visibility and moved into the top five with an impressive drive, others were not so lucky. Meirion Evans lost nearly 30 seconds in the thick dust behind Williams, while early leader Jürgenson also dropped time and relinquished the lead.
“In the morning I was really eager to start going,” said the Estonian. “But it’s difficult to enjoy when you have these dangerous moments when it’s full of dust and you just hope that you are on the road.”
Photo By Andrew Scott
Stage 3, the 10.72 mile Buck Fell, saw a resurgence from Jürgenson & Oja as they struck back with another stage victory, 1.3 seconds faster than Creighton, and reclaimed the overall lead by just 0.2 seconds.
“Definitely we want to push” said a confident Jürgenson. “Let’s see now how it is with the dust.”
Keith Cronin logged the third fastest time and continued his measured approach to the championship. “It’s a long year. I probably don’t take the same level of risk that I used to” he admitted.
Photos By Andrew Scott
Meanwhile, Williams mounted a spirited recovery, climbing 28 places overall thanks to a flat out push. “It’s one of those fast stages where if you’re just 5% off you could lose 10–15 seconds. It’s a balance.”
As crews returned to service, Jürgenson led, Creighton was a close second, and Pearson a distant but solid third. Cronin held fourth with Black close behind in fifth, surprising many gravel specialists.
AFTER STAGE 3
| POS | LEADERBOARD | TIME (DIF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #7 R.JURGENSON / S.JOA | 25:08.0 |
| 2 | #1 W.CREIGHTON / L.REGAN | 25:08.2 (+2) |
| 3 | #11 G.PEARSON / H.MCKILLOP | 25:26.6 (+18.4) |
| 4 | #2 K.CRONIN / M.GALVIN | 25:27.3 (+0.7) |
| 5 | #4 .C.BLACK / J.MORTON | 25:42.9 (+15.6) |
LEG 2
Photo By Rob Sayer
The penultimate test, 12.83 miles of Chirdonhead, was set to be the fastest of the day and offered a beautiful view of Kielder Water in the final half mile, not that the crews could spare a glance out of the window.
While Williams continued to climb the leaderboard, setting the second fastest time, Creighton’s rally unravelled as he overshot a chicane and had to reverse, losing over 13 seconds and slipping further behind the leader.
“It’s fine margins” he lamented. “That was a pretty clean run [otherwise]. Thanks to all the team for their hard work.”
Photo Left: By Andrew Scott | Photo Right: By Rob Sayer
Cronin, meanwhile, suffered a brief but costly electrical gremlin, his Citroën C3 Rally2 cutting out and requiring a full reset. The lost time handed Garry Pearson a comfortable buffer for the final podium spot.
Meirion Evans, freed from earlier delays, experimented with hard tyres and posted a strong time, climbing into sixth overall. As the final service break loomed, Jürgenson led by 13.5 seconds over Creighton.
Photo By Andrew Scott
The repeat of Buck Fell would decide it all. With Jürgenson in control and only one stage to go, it was a matter of holding his nerve.
Callum Black’s consistent pace netted him seventh fastest on the stage and a solid fifth overall. A strong result for a driver more familiar with tarmac. “We’ve learnt a lot. It’s just about being braver now” he said.
Photos By Andrew Scott
Cronin pushed hard, securing third fastest on the stage and locking in fourth overall. “Fourth is the best we could hope for after the last stage drama. It’s good for the championship,” he reflected.
Gary Pearson, despite a spin and a reverse, held on to third. His first BRC podium of the season. “Great to get a podium. Thanks to the team!”
Photo Left: By Rob Sayer | Photo Right By Andrew Scott
Creighton sealed second with a strong stage time, but there was a clear sense of missed opportunity. “It’s fine margins” he admitted.
And at the top, Romet Jürgenson completed his BRC breakthrough with a stunning debut victory. Four stage wins, composed driving, and resilience under pressure defined a day to remember. “It’s finally all come together. It feels amazing!” he beamed.
The BRC Podium | By Rob Sayer
FINAL RESULTS
| POS | BRC LEADERBOARD | TIME (DIF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #7 R.JURGENSON / S.JOA | 45:43.8 |
| 2 | #1 W.CREIGHTON / L.REGAN | 45:58.2 (+14.4) |
| 3 | #11 G.PEARSON / H.MCKILLOP | 46:49.1 (+50.9) |
| 4 | #2 K.CRONIN / M.GALVIN | 46:58.0 (+9.8) |
| 5 | #4 .C.BLACK / J.MORTON | 47:05.0 (+6.1) |
JBRC / KELLY’S CLEAN SWEEP
Photo By Rob Sayer
The Junior BRC delivered an impressive display of emerging talent, with Joseph Kelly & James McBrearty delivering a flawless performance in their Peugeot 208 Rally4. The Irish duo claimed victory in all five stages, finishing 45.8 seconds ahead of fellow countrymen Jack Brennan & Eoghan Doherty.
Kalum Graffin & Mark McGeehan completed the podium a further 1 minute 38 seconds back. With a strong Motorsport Ireland contingent and a field of eager talent, the JBRC battle is shaping up to be a thrilling one in 2025.
| POS | JBRC FINAL RESULTS | TIME (DIF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #35 J.KELLY / J.MCBREARTY | 51:26.8 |
| 2 | #34 J.BRENNAN / E.DOHERTY | 52:12.6 (+45.8) |
| 3 | #33 K.GRAFFIN / M.MCGEEHAN | 54:50.7 (+2:38.1) |
| 4 | #65 N.ROBINSON / S.COLLIS | 1:01:27.3 (+6:36.6) |
BHRC / CROSSEN CONQUERS HISTORIC KIELDER
Photo By Andrew Scott
The Carlisle Stages also hosted round two of the British Historic Rally Championship. The classic MK II Escorts remained the dominant force, although reliability woes thinned the field throughout the day.
David Crossen & Ben Teggart led from the front, fending off strong runs from Dan Mennell and David Henderson. Crossen’s consistent pace, especially over the long stages, netted him a well deserved win.
Mennell, victor of the opening round, settled for second this time, while Henderson rounded out the podium. Despite the attrition, the historic category once again delivered drama, nostalgia, and tight battles.
Photos By Rob Sayer
| POS | BBRC FINAL RESULTS | TIME (DIF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #37 D.CROSSEN / B.TEGGART | 50:42.2 |
| 2 | #26 D.MENNELL / J.ROBERTS | 51:32.4 (+50.2) |
| 3 | #31 D.HENDERSON / C.LEES | 51:48.3 (+15.9) |
| 4 | #41 A.MILNER / R.JARVIS | 52:53.8 (+1:05.5) |
| 5 | #43 P.THOMPSON / J.DAVIES | 52:58.4 (+4.6) |
WELSH / PLAYING AWAY FROM HOME
The BRC and BHRC were also joined in Carlisle by the Welsh Rally Championship. Four times champs, Matthew Hirst & Declan Dear opted to focus on their BRC campaign, which therefore left the door wide open for a battle between Russ Thompson and Liam Clark.
Clark and Co-Driver Emily Easton-Page drew first blood in their Ford Fiesta Rally2 over the opening two stages in the Ash Park and Kershopt Forest complex. As the crews reached the Kielder Forest region, Thompson and Co-Driver Stephen Link returned fire in the third stage of the day, Buck Fell. The pair followed that up with another stage win in Chirdenhead to lead the Welsh field by 12.7 seconds going into the final stage of the rally.
Clark and Page gave it one last roll of the dice on the final Buck Fell test, managing to take the stage win and clawing back 5.1 seconds. Alas, it was not enough, Thompson and Link would secure the opening round win in their Mitsubishi EVO IX with a final winning margin of 7.6 seconds over Clark and Page. James Giddings & Aled Davies would round out the Welsh podium, bringing their their Mitsubishi EVO IX home some 58 seconds later than Clark.
| POS | WELSH FINAL RESULTS | TIME (DIF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | #12 R.THOMPSON / S.LINK | 48:19.4 |
| 2 | #14 L.CLARK / E.EASTON-PAGE | 48:27.0 (+7.6) |
| 3 | #20 J.GIDDINGS / A.DAVIES | 49:25.9 (+1:06.5) |
| 4 | #19 M.O’BRIEN / N.BURNS | 49:33.1 (+1:13.7) |
| 5 | #26 D.MENNELL / J.ROBERTS | 51:32.4 (+1:59.3) |
LOOKING AHEAD
Looking Ahead for the BRC, attention now turns to the Jim Clark Rally (May 23–25) as the championship heads to the iconic closed road stages of Duns. With two different winners from the first two rounds, the 2025 title race is wide open.
Both the BHRC and Welsh series returns to the Welsh forests for the Plains Rally in Y Bala on May 17, finally getting back to their spiritual home after months of disruption.
As for Carlisle, the stages delivered on every level! Fast, fierce, and unforgettable. And for Romet Jürgenson, it was the day everything came together.
