ERC
Armstrong hoping to be an ERC wonder in Wales
Barum Czech Rally Zlín podium hero Jon Armstrong is aiming for the top on JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion, the penultimate round of the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship.
Amstrong came within 10.7s of denying 2013 ERC champion Jan Kopecky a 12th win on his home round of the ERC earlier this month, settling instead for second place alongside co-driver Shane Byrne.
The Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally2 driver now hopes to use his runner-up placing in the Czech Republic as a catalyst for more ERC success when he makes his second start in Aberystwyth.
Victory sights have been set by the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy star
© ERC
“Barum Rally is a rally that’s been difficult for me in the past with the Rally3 car and the accident [in 2023],” said the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver, 30. “To get second is like a win to be honest, and to be so close with Jan and fight with him over the rally was really cool so we’re very happy.”
“We’ve had good pace all year so [this result] was about putting everything together. I knew if I could get into a good rhythm I could fight with the front guys. We had a good recce, stayed positive and made it a rally we wanted to enjoy driving and that’s what we did.
“I need to figure out how to win now, maybe we’ll see if we do that [in Ceredigion]. Of course, it’s never easy but I just need to stay focused now and put everything we’ve learned this weekend into practice with set-up and all those sorts of things to have a really strong event.”
Armstrong claimed his first ERC stage wins on last year’s JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion on his way to finishing sixth overall. This year’s Aberystwyth-based event takes place from 5 - 7 September on all-asphalt stages in West Wales.
