Points leader Paddon’s the ERC street star

Powered by a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 on Pirelli tyres, Paddon was fastest by 0.2sec on the first pass of the 1.34-kilometre LAS Recycling & Cambrian Training Aberystwyth test before going quickest again on the second pass, this time by 0.9sec.     

He heads into Saturday’s first full day of JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion leading by 1.3sec with MRF Tyres-equipped Andrea Mabellini in a strong second in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 followed by Miko Marczyk, who is driving a Fabia RS Rally2 on Michelin tyres.     

“It was great to see so many people out and on a glorious Welsh day it’s the perfect start,” said Paddon.     

Mabellini was 0.2sec slower than Paddon on SS1 but 1.1sec on the SS2 after he “overshot a little bit.”     

Marczyk said: “It’s quite tricky, in some places I was over-pushing, some stages I was too early.”     

Behind 2019 ERC champion Chris Ingram, 2024 title contenders Simone Tempestini and Mathieu Franceschi are fifth and sixth overall respectively with Franceschi 3.8sec down on Paddon.     

“I have to learn something because on city stages I lose too much time every time,” Franceschi said. “I have to work for tomorrow and put this behind us.”     

Callum Devine, Jon Armstrong (below), William Creighton and James Williams complete the top 10 followed by Keith Cronin, who is chasing a record-equalling fourth British title. The  Irishman completed SS1 with damage to the front-left corner of his Ford Fiesta Rally2 following contact with a stage obstacle.   

Three-time British champion Matt Edwards reported a pop-off valve issue in his Fiesta.      

Pirelli-equipped Filip Kohn tops the FIA ERC3 order after two stages in his Ford Fiesta Rally3 as Timo Schulz set the pace in FIA ERC4 and Junior ERC driving an Opel Corsa Rally4 on Hankook tyres.    

Thousands of fans lined the route of the town centre stage, held in the early evening sunshine. It followed the ceremonial start on the Aberystwyth sea front attended by Nicky Grist and Elfyn Evans, Welsh WRC heroes past and present.     

Up next is the 19.75km ETT Trailers Brechfa stage from 08:05 local time on Saturday.

Watch the action live on Rally.tv and follow the live timing by clicking HERE.