ERC
Armstrong edges closer to maiden win at ERC Ceredigion
Jon Armstrong moved a step closer to a maiden FIA European Rally Championship victory on Sunday morning at JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion.
The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver extended his lead to 13.8sec over team-mate Romet Jürgenson, while ERC championship pacesetter Miko Marczyk held onto third, 31.2sec down on the flying Armstrong. M-Sport and Ford remain on course for their first ERC wins since Adrien Fourmaux’s triumph on Rally Islas Canarias in November 2020.
Marczyk’s nearest title rival Andrea Mabellini continues his fightback from a two-minute penalty issued before the event to sit in sixth overall, albeit 2min 44.7sec adrift of first place.
Overcast skies and the threat of rain threw an extra curveball for crews when it came to selecting tyres. Rally leader Armstrong trusted his weather crew and opted against taking any wet tyres as part of his package.
The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver's call was reflected in the times to win SS9, Nant y Moch, that was held in dry conditions. It was Armstrong's third stage win of the event, which he captured ahead of fellow Pirelli-shod team-mate Jürgenson by 3.3sec to grow his lead over the Estonian to 10.6sec.
The heavy rain stayed away for SS10, Mynnydd Bach, where Armstrong notched up his fourth stage best, posting a time 2.7sec faster than Marczyk, that was crucially 3.2sec quicker than Jürgenson.
“I would say we were quite lucky [to avoid the heavy rain] as it was starting to rain a bit towards the end, but nothing heavy. But it makes you think there could be a slippy corner coming up. It was quite a safe run, so to be faster is great,” said Armstrong.
Jürgenson remains on course for an ERC podium
© ERC
Jürgenson made a small error at the hairpin in the stage as he dropped further behind Armstrong.
“To be honest it didn’t feel so good. Getting into the stage I didn’t have the feeling to push and a real reason to do it. I know today, Jon is probably a bit faster than me so I don’t want to risk everything and with the soft tyres the understeer was quite crazy, I messed up the handbrake place too so not the best stage,” said the FIA Rally Star driver.
Probite British Rally Championship leader William Creighton, who was among the majority of crews to carry two spare wet tyres for the loop, managed to take 3.2sec out of Miko Marczyk on SS9 to close the gap in the fight for third to 6.9sec.
The Michelin-shod Marczyk responded to Creighton’s effort by taking 1.5sec out of the Irishman on SS10. Creighton did however carry a transmission issue that prevented him from putting his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car in neutral.
Marczyk still holds the ERC title initiative
© ERC
Callum Devine and Max McRae, both running on MRF Tyres, rejoined the rally following their retirements from yesterday’s action. Devine’s return only lasted one stage as a second engine fire brought the Irishman to a halt in SS10. Meanwhile, McRae was also lucky to survive a wild slide during the stage.
Two-time Rali Ceredigion winner Osian Pryce’s decision to go for a wet set-up backfired, but the Welshman was able to maintain fifth overall, 57.2sec ahead of ERC title contender Mabellini, with Callum Black in seventh, 3m22.7sec down on top spot.
ERC3 leader Eamonn Kelly held eighth in front of local hero and ERC4 pacesetter Ioan Lloyd, while Meirion Evans rounded out the top 10.
Crews will complete a second pass of the stages this afternoon to conclude the 2025 JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion with the event-deciding Power Stage due to begin at 15h05 local time.
