BILLY COLEMAN AWARD
MEET WILLIAM CREIGHTON I am a progressive rally driver from Moira, Co.Down, aged 21. From sliding a Ford Ka around the fields at home, I was hooked on driving and my Father’s deep rooted interest in Historic Rallying ultimately led to me getting behind the wheel competitively and I have been contesting motorsport events since 2009 Success has come throughout my career, from my initial karting programme, to the Junior 1000 Rally Championship, the Irish Tarmac, British Rally Championship, as well as standalone events. In 2014 I became the first driver to win both the J1000 British and Irish Championship.
Progressing into a Peugeot 208 R2 has brought an impressive array of accolades, with class and championship wins at all levels. In 2018, I made my debut in an R5, taking second overall on the Tyrone Stages Rally behind the wheel of a Citroen DS3 R5. In 2019 I became ITRC Class 3, Irish Forestry R2 and FIA Celtic Junior Champion, as well as Junior BRC runner up after a closely fought battle all season. I went on to secure third overall on the Tyrone Stages, once again in an R5.
WHY WILLIAM? • I have been fortunate enough to learn my craft from the age of 14 years old. • I believe that my talent has shone through, from the very first J1000 Junior title. • Proving that I have what it takes to progress through the ranks of the sport, I am eager to take the next steps of my career with the support and backing of an iconic award at my side. • I believe I have an unrivaled determination to overcome the sports challenges - having fought back up the leaderboard on several occasions to keep title hopes alive and score valuable points. • I have competed in 4 full seasons of ITRC and 3 full seasons of BRC in the R2 category – I feel that I am at the best stage of my rally career to compete further afield and progress to the next level. • Despite being a relative latecomer to social media, I have managed to obtain:
Facebook Organic Reach (since Aug 2019) Twitter Organic Reach (since Aug 2019)
41,279 24,045
In-Car features on BBC NI Sport Social Media In-Car features on Peugeot Sport UK/Ireland Features in Lurgan Mail, Belfast Telegraph, National Motorsport press and more
• I have secured the services of a dedicated media team for the 2020 season and beyond, to promote myself, Motorsport Ireland and the Billy Coleman Award. Press Releases, on-event social media, content creation, videos and features will form part of my promotional package to raise my profile and that of my partners in the 2020 season and beyond. • I feel that by progressing with the support of Motorsport Ireland and the Billy Coleman Award by my side, I am the most ideal person to act as an ambassador for both the sport and our country.
J1000 JUNIORS
JUNIOR BRC AND ITRC
R5 DEBUT
FURTHER R5 OUTING
I feel that my career could arguably be used as one of the finest examples of progression through the sport in recent times. My passion, raw ability and determination has seen me excel at every level I have participated in. From the Junior Rally Category for 14-17 year olds, the Irish Tarmac and British Rally Championship and onto my debut in R5 machinery, I have successfully balanced my experience with a developing pace as I continue to climb the motorsport ladder.
WILLIAM CREIGHTON A JOURNEY..
Achievements include: • 2009 – Ulster Karting Champion • 2010 – Northern Ireland Karting Champion • 2012 – Competed in British Karting Championship • 2014 – British J1000 Rally Champion Irish J1000 Rally Champion World Expo UK Young Rally Driver of the Year • 2016 – ITRC Class 3 runner-up Junior FIA Celtic Trophy runner-up
• 2017 – Junior BRC runner-up ITRC Class 3 runner-up • 2018 – Junior FIA Celtic Trophy runner-up 2nd O/A Tyrone Stages • 2019 – ITRC3 Champion Irish Forestry R2 Rally Champion Junior FIA Celtic Trophy Champion Junior BRC runner-up 3rd O/A Tyrone Stages
RESULTS TO DATE
FAST FACTS
Total Rally Starts: 78 Retirements: 8 Rallies with Liam Regan: 58 Rallies in Peugeot 208 R2: 59 Rallies in R5: 2
2013 - Debut season First year in Irish J1000 Rallying in Citroen C1
2014 - British/Irish J1000 Irish Junior 1000 Rally Champion (5/6 rally wins) British Junior 1000 Rally Champion (first driver to win both championships)
2015 - Peugeot 208 R2 debut Cork 20 International 1st Class 2 (21ST O/A). Wexford Stages 2nd Class 2 (28th O/A).
2016 - ITRC/JBRC • 2nd ITRC Class 3 • 2nd Junior FIA Celtic Trophy Grizedale Stages 1st Class 2 (16th O/A) Rally Isle of Man 4th Class RC4 (13TH O/A) International Rally of the Lakes 2nd Class 2 (20th O/A) ERC Circuit of Ireland 1st ITRC3 (26TH O/A) Galway International Rally 3rd Class 2 (30th O/A)
2017 - ITRC/JBRC/WRC debut • Junior BRC Vice Champion (25 stage wins) • 2nd ITRC3 2 Day Training Course at John Haugland Rally School in Norway. WRC Wales Rally GB 59TH O/A Pirelli International JBRC Winner (11th O/A) John Mulholland Ulster Rally JBRC Winner (10th O/A) Nicky Grist Stages 2ND JBRC (8TH O/A) Ypres Rally 2nd JBRC (41ST O/A) Donegal International Rally 2nd Class RC4 (35TH O/A)
2018 - R5 Debut/JBRC/ITRC • 2nd Junior FIA Celtic Trophy • 5th Junior BRC • Contested WRC Wales Rally GB • Contested Ypres Rally • Opportunity to participate at the Official Citroen C3R5 Test in France. Rally Van Wervik 2nd Class RC4 (29TH O/A) Pirelli International Rally 3rd JBRC (14TH O/A) 2nd Overall Tyrone Stages DS3R5
2019 - ITRC/JBRC/R5 outing • ITRC3 Champion • Irish Forestry R2 Rally Champion • FIA Junior Celtic Rally Champion • Junior BRC Vice Champion • 16 Rallies Started, 0 Retirements • 3RD Overall Tyrone Stages Fiesta R5 International Rally of the Lakes 1st Class RC4 (7th O/A) BRC Galloway Hills Rally 1st JBRC (5th O/A) Cork 20 International Rally 1st Class RC4 (10th O/A) Limerick Forestry Rally 1st Class RC4 (6th 0/A)
ADAPTABLE, SUCCESSFUL, AMBITIOUS. MORE THAN READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP OF MY CAREER...
THE FUTURE Progression has always been the fundamental backbone of my career and after success in each category of the ladder, I am keen to ensure this theme resonates into the future. Despite a difficult year in the Junior British Rally Championship in 2018, I have always enthused a “never give up” attitude which was replicated in 2019 when I faced some major hurdles in my championship campaign part way through the season. Grit and determination allowed me to stand on the podium of the final round, narrowly missing out on the Junior BRC title. Whilst heading into a European Championship has been an option that I have been exploring, I believe that the best opportunity to prove my pace, resilience and further expand my career on the world’s stage, would be by contesting FIA Junior World Rally Championship. The JWRC is one of the most challenging and closely fought championships in recent times. Competing against a brace of young competitors from around the world, I believe the single make formula of the JWRC offers me the best opportunity to show I have what it takes to compete at the highest level of the sport. I am confident that my natural talent and ability would shine through and thanks to my experiences during my short but dynamic career, I am prepared to compete in the Junior World Rally Championship.
Whilst my focus is undoubtedly on taking one season at a time, I also have the ambition and required commitment to expand my horizons further still and compete at the highest level. In 2020, my challenge will be to match funding from personal sponsors, Motorsport Ireland and the Billy Coleman Award to allow me to compete for the Junior WRC Rookie Award. The following year, I would be aiming for the outright JWRC title, using experiences from my 2020 campaign. As a young driver, the WRC is of course my main goal and whilst I remain realistic about my opportunities, I want to demonstrate my capabilities in front of a global audience, with Motorsport Ireland and the Billy Coleman Award by my side.
THE FIA JUNIOR WRC •
Described by Malcolm Wilson as “the most cost-effective championship for any budding young driver to get in the world stage”.
•
2020 Calendar
Sweden (13-16 February) Chile (16-19 April) Italy (4-7 June) Finland (6-9 August) •
Germany (15-18 October)
2019 saw 17 drivers, from 10 different countries, and 3 different continents.
• 2020 winner receives outright ownership of new MK2 Fiesta R5 with free 2021 FIA WRC2 registration and 5 free 2021 WRC2 entries in the WRC, along with the support of Pirelli who will provide 200 free tyres to use across WRC2 events. •
Rookie award - €15,000 towards 2021 JWRC (all drivers eligible for 2019 rookie award went in to final round with a mathematical chance of winning it).
JUNIOR WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP REACH
ATTENDANCE
TV COVERAGE
4.1 MILLION
825 MILLION
ON-EVENT SPECTATORS OVER 14 ROUNDS OF THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
GLOBAL TV AUDIENCE
ONLINE
SOCIAL MEDIA
15 MILLION
130 MILLION
ANNUAL ONLINE CONTACTS
3 MILLION
ONLINE ANNUAL VIEWS
DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS
40,000
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS
JUNIOR WRC AN INSIGHT COST: Entry to the 2020 Junior WRC costs 145,900 EUR INCLUDING: • JWRC Priority Entry • Rally Car Rental/Transport • FIA Fuel • Tyres ( Supplier to be confirmed ) • Service Facilities • Parts Access & All rebuilds as required • On-Event Hospitality for Driver & Co-Driver • Rally Car Insurance
PRIZE: The 2020 JWRC Champion will receive: •
Brand new Ford Fiesta R5
•
200 tyres towards 2020 WRC3 series (WRC3 will replace current WRC2)
•
Free WRC3 registration
•
Free entry fees to the events of JWRC 2021
Registration opened on 1st November 2019. The first driver selection will be made on 15th December 2019. For the first round, entries will close on 13th January 2020.
GET IN TOUCH WILLIAM CREIGHTON T: +44 (0) 7841 867069 E: william@creightons.co.uk /WilliamCreightonRallying Wcreighton @WCreighton1