ERC
ERC Ceredigion fightback begins for Mabellini with SSS1 best
Andrea Mabellini has begun his fightback from a two-minute time penalty by topping the order on the Aberystwyth super special stage.
The FIA European Rally Championship title contender and Qualifying Stage winner outpaced points rival Miko Marczyk by 1.3sec in a firm statement of intent from the Pirelli-equipped Italian on JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion.
“It was okay, it was a nice run, no problems, one big braking in the last chicane that I almost don’t stop the car but I made it,” Mabellini said. “Nice beginning, 1.3s, 1 minute and 58 seconds to catch back.”
Marczyk, who leads overall by 1.2sec, said: “This one was a really nice stage, we know it from last year, just some small differences. It was quite a good stage from our sid but the quali run was also not bad but the time was not as good as I would like. I’m happy, I drove like I can.”
Behind Michelin-shod Marczyk, Jakub Matulka went third fastest through the 1.25-kilometre street stage, which attracted thousands of fans, with Jon Armstrong fourth and home hero Osian Pryce in fifth.
The two-time Rali Ceredigion winner said: “One thing I’ve promised myself is I’m going to have a smile on my face at the end of every stage, I think that’s quite important. That’s what’s happened in the past when I’ve won the rally so we need to go back to that mode and enjoy ourselves.”
Hubert Kowalczyk topped the ERC3 order in his Renault Clio Rally3
© ERC
William Creighton went sixth quickest followed by Philip Allen, who was the first driver to experience light rain on the stage.
“Literally the rain just started when we were on the start line and I was thinking ‘please don’t bucket’ [down],” said Allen, who missed the Qualifying Stage after damaging his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2’s suspension on his first run in Free Practice.
Meirion Evans, Max McRae and Garry Pearson were next up with Callum Devine just outside the top 10 places for Team MRF Tyres following an eventful stage.
“It’s a bit weird, actually my wipers were on fast at the start of the stage and I thought it was fine but then round a hairpin she locked up and I lost a few seconds at the chicane,” said Devine. “We’re through it, my wing mirror has gone, unfortunately but that’s the way it is.”
Rising Welsh star Ioan Lloyd topped the ERC4 category
© ERC
FIA Rally Star Romet Jürgenson was 12th quickest followed by ERC3 pacesetter Hubert Kowalczyk. Master ERC contender Martin Vlček was 14th followed by ERC3 runner Eamonn Kelly. Hankook-equipped Ioan Lloyd was 19th fastest overall in his ERC4-specifcation Peugeot 208 Rally4.
JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion continues tomorrow (Saturday) with the 14.30-kilometre Cwm Elan test from 07:10 local time.
