M-Sport’s Armstrong scores emotional maiden ERC win in Wales

M-Sport-Ford’s Jon Armstrong scored an emotional maiden European Rally Championship victory in Wales to set up a three-way fight in next month’s title decider. 

Ireland’s Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne emerged from Rali Ceredigion’s 12 tricky asphalt stages to take the win by 29.2s from reigning Junior WRC champion and M-Sport team-mate Romet Jurgenson. ERC points leader Miko Marczyk completed the podium in third, 43.7s behind. 

Armstrong’s victory was also M-Sport’s first ERC win since 2020 when Adrien Fourmaux won in the Canary Islands. 

“It is something you are always working towards for sure. We had a nice little cry together [myself and Shane] on the way down here [to the podium],” said Armstrong.

“It has been a lot of hard work and a lot of years rallying and to get here is amazing. A big thanks to M-Sport and to have a 1-2 for them is amazing also, and it shows the car is great and everyone in the team. I just can’t believe it, it will take a while to sink in.”

Marczyk took the early lead after winning the Friday night blast through the streets of Aberystwyth. However, Marczyk’s lead didn’t last long as Armstrong overhauled the Skoda driver after winning stage two on Saturday morning to lead by 0.3s.

Armstrong then survived a spin and minor contact with a gate in the tricky Y Diafol 1 – 33.86km stage which caught out several drivers. Armstrong came under pressure from Jurgenson, who starred across Saturday morning’s stages. Jurgenson, boosted by a maiden ERC stage win on stage three, headed to midday service only 0.2s behind Armstrong as the M-Sport duo pulled clear of the field.

However, Armstrong showed his class on Saturday afternoon, setting the fastest time in the second pass through Y Diafol to edge away from Jurgenson, who is also contesting. The lead stood at 7.3s heading into Sunday’s final four stages.

A bold gamble not to take wet tyres on Sunday morning paid off for Armstrong, who won stage nine and 10 under threatening skies. Heavy rain arrived for stage 11, where Armstrong delivered a stunning drive that was 14.5s faster than anyone else before sealing the win.

Armstrong is now only 20 points behind championship leader Marczyk heading into next month’s Croatia finale on 25 October.

“It is all to play for in Croatia and it is another slippy rally, so anything is possible,” Armstrong said. 

British Rally Championship leader William Creighton was the quickest of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 contingent to finish fourth ahead of two-time Rali Ceredigion winner Osain Pryce. 

Marczyk’s nearest rival Andrea Mabellini finished sixth after being handed a two-minute penalty before the rally for breaching recce rules. Two members of Mabellini’s team – without his knowledge – were identified as being on stages 10 and 12 at a time when rules state they should not have been.

The Italian’s impressive recovery from sixth, which includes a victory in the Power Stage, means he is two points adrift of Marczyk in the championship on dropped scores.

British Rally Championship fight to go down to the wire 

The British Rally Championship title will also be decided at the final round next month despite William Creighton having the opportunity to seal it this weekend. 

Armstrong took the BRC win as well as the ERC victory, having entered both series this weekend, taking the win from British championship regular Jurgenson. 

Creighton’s run to fourth overall was enough to secure third in the BRC class, but it wasn’t enough to claim the title that will now be decided at The Cambrian Rally on 25 October. 

The Irishman now has a 16.5-point lead over Melvyn Evans Motorsport team-mate Evans, while Jurgenson can still mathematically secure the title, albeit 21.5 points behind.    

“It has been a consistent weekend. It is difficult when you can’t afford not to score points this weekend,” said Creighton.

“We were trying at times and we have still got some work to do to try and match the guys, but the team have been doing a great job looking after us. It is good to have another strong round for the championship.

“We have got time to prepare now [for the Cambrian Rally] and be as ready as we can be. It wasn’t really the aim to come here and win the British championship, we knew things had to fall in place to make that happen so I’m happy to come away with strong points.”