ERC
How tips from the top are aiding Kowalczyk’s ERC progression
Hubert Kowalczyk has revealed how tips from former ERC3 champion Jon Armstrong have been helping him to progress during his first full FIA European Rally Championship season.
Kowalczyk, 21, is currently second in the FIA ERC3 title table and spent time with Armstrong ahead of JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion earlier this month, an event Armstrong won outright for his maiden ERC victory.
“It's no secret that I've been a big fan of Jon for several years,” said Kowalczyk, who drives a Pirelli-equipped Renault Clio Rally3 for Chmielewski Motorsport. “Let’s be clear, for me he was one of the fastest guys in ERC3, a true Rally3 maestro. The opportunity to meet him and train under his guidance was quite an experience and a real honour. You can see it in one of my Instagram posts, when Jon jumped into my right seat, I got goosebumps.
Lessons from Armstrong were put into practice on Rali Ceredigion
© ERC
“Jon has a lot of talent, not only for driving – he explains things in a clear, very direct way, and you can feel both his passion and his vast experience. Thanks to his advice, I gained a lot of confidence and understood what to pay attention to. He’s a great guy.
“I’m all the more happy that a few days after our meeting, he stood on the top step of the ERC podium. And although we are Poles and we keep our fingers crossed for Mikołaj [Markczyk] and Szymon [Gospodarczyk], our delegation waited at the finish line to douse Jon and Shane with another bottle of champagne. He’s an inspiration to us, a true rallying role model. Composure, discipline, humility, a cool head, that’s Jon in just a few words. I’m sure, that he is a future champion. M-Sport, you have placed your trust in the right person.”
Kowalczyk banked his beakthrough ERC3 victory in Zlín
© ERC
Kowalczyk arrived in Wales for the penultimate round of the 2025 season on the back of claiming his breakthrough ERC3 victory on Barum Czech Rally Zlín the previous month. He was forced to restart on leg two after stopping on SS6 with alternator failure but managed to finish in second place behind winner Eamonn Kelly but ahead of championship pacesetter Tymek Abramowski.
Croatia Rally takes place from 3 - 5 October using an all-asphalt route based out of the capital Zagreb.
