Chris Ingram and his co-driver, Alex Kihurani, have been crowned the Probite British Rally Championship (BRC) winners after their victory at the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally.
The event marked the thrilling end of a fiercely contested season.
Ingram, who is a former FIA European Rally Champion, navigated his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 across the challenging stages of North Wales with precision.
He managed to secure a crucial lead in the afternoon, clinching both the rally victory and the BRC Championship title.
After the final stage, Ingram said: "What a relief.
"Will has pushed so hard today and we have had to give it everything we had.
"It's been an amazing season, and I've really enjoyed it.
"It’s been an amazing competition.
"It's not been an easy season, but that really adds to the story for us.
"It’s been amazing."
This victory places Ingram among an elite group of drivers who have claimed the British Rally Championship title, joining the likes of Colin McRae, Richard Burns, and Elfyn Evans.
However, the championship win was not straightforward.
Ingram and Kihurani were in a rally-long battle with three other title hopefuls, with William Creighton and his co-driver Liam Regan proving to be formidable competitors.
Creighton, in his Ford Fiesta Rally2, was just 0.9 seconds behind Ingram after the opening stage.
Despite deploying his points-boosting Joker for the finale and putting on a flawless display, Creighton couldn't match Ingram's pace and settled for second in both the Cambrian Rally and the BRC standings.
Creighton said: "I tried.
"It’s been a difficult year; stepping up into the Rally2 car has been amazing and to compete at the top of the British Rally Championship, we are very lucky."
Four drivers, including Ingram and Creighton, had a shot at the title heading into the weekend.
Osian Pryce and Keith Cronin were also in the mix, but Cronin's championship bid ended due to steering issues in the second stage.
Pryce and his co-driver Rhodri Evans took solace in a podium place to conclude the season.
The Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally was also the decisive round for the Junior British Rally Championship (JBRC).
Robert Proudlock, co-driven by Steven Brown in their Peugeot 208 Rally4, emerged as the Junior BRC Champion after a gripping battle with five other title hopefuls.
Proudlock said: "What a year, it's been absolutely incredible.
"I can't go without mentioning my mum, who I lost last year.
"This is what we do it for.
"I am absolutely buzzing."
The rally attracted a strong line-up of competitors across all BRC classes, making the finale an action-packed showdown.
In addition to the BRC1 category, where Ingram and Creighton’s rivalry unfolded, the event was crucial for the Open and National Rally Titles.
Rally icon Stig Blomqvist made a special appearance, driving a Mini Cooper S in celebration of the 40th anniversary of his 1984 World Rally Championship title.
His presence added a nostalgic touch to the event, drawing fans and evoking memories of his legendary achievements in rallying.
As the season concludes, the British Rally Championship celebrates a year of exceptional battles across all categories, with each going down to the wire.
The journey to the top of British rallying marks yet another career-defining achievement for Chris Ingram, while Junior champion Robert Proudlock’s win promises a bright future in the sport.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here