Thanks the FIA ERC Media team for this info
Driving a recovery lorry, lambing sheep, and chasing ERC glory: The William Creighton interview
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver William Creighton is in Sweden this weekend for the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, round two of the FIA European Rally Championship.
The 2023 Junior World Rally Champion and 2025 British Rally Champion has stepped up to the ERC stage full-time this year with co-driver Liam Regan in their Tagai Racing Technology-prepared Citroën C3 Rally2. We caught up with him to talk about his transition to Europe, his targets for the year, and life away from the stages.
Moving to the ERC
Why did you choose the ERC for this season?
“It felt like a natural progression in my rally career. An opportunity to test myself against some of the best drivers rising through the sport.”
What target have you set yourself for this season?
“To develop rally-winning pace at this level.”
What are you hoping to learn from competing in the ERC this year?
“It’s a hard question to answer, because the things I will learn are the things I never knew. I hope to take as much away from the season as possible, but ultimately the aim is to achieve my target.”
Heroes and achievements
Who is your rallying hero and why?
“I don’t have a specific rally hero. I admire drivers like Ogier, Loeb, Hamilton, and Alonso, who have dedicated a huge period of their life to motorsport. Sports people who I look up to from back home would be Rory McIlroy and Carl Frampton, for the way they represent themselves and their country.”
What is your greatest achievement in motorsport so far?
“Junior WRC champion in 2023 and British champion in 2025.”
Looking back to your first rally, when and where was it, what car did you drive, and what happened?
“My first proper rally was in 2015 at the Tyrone Stages in a Peugeot 208 R2. Jon Armstrong and Rob Duggan were racing for the win at this event.”
Life outside the cockpit
If you weren’t a rally driver, what sport would you like to do?
“I don’t think there is another sport that I would want to compete in. My mum competed in horse eventing so maybe she would try to convince me to do that!”
When you are not competing, what do you do to keep busy?
“I help my Dad at our family business by driving a recovery lorry. I grew up on a farm and this is something that I enjoy, I get very jealous with farmers that have big tractors! It’s a nice way to get outside after watching hours of onboards and looking at pacenotes.”
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
“This year I learnt how to lamb a sheep. I also have my artic lorry licence.”
Looking to the future, where do you hope to be in five years?
“Driving for a manufacturer in rallying.”
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