Jon Armstrong Seals Thrilling European Rally Championship Victory at Rali Ceredigion
Northern Ireland's Jon Armstrong claims a historic first European Rally Championship win in Wales, boosting his title hopes ahead of the decisive Croatia finale.

Northern Ireland rally star Jon Armstrong delivered a career-defining performance at Rali Ceredigion, securing his maiden European Rally Championship (ERC) victory in dramatic fashion.
Rally Dominance in Wales
- Armstrong and co-driver Shayne Byrne dominated all 12 stages in their M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2
- Finished 29.2 seconds ahead of teammate Romet Jurgenson
- Marked first simultaneous ERC/British Rally Championship (BRC) victory
Championship Implications
- Closes gap to ERC leader Miko Marczyk (33 points) ahead of Croatia decider
- BRC leader William Creighton strengthens position with 4th-place finish
- Local favorite Meirion Evans crashes out, reshaping BRC standings
Key Stats
- Total rally distance: 143.18 competitive kilometers
- Armstrong's stage wins: 8/12
- ERC title decider: Rally Croatia (October 12-14)
Driver Reactions
"This result validates years of perseverance," Armstrong told BBC Sport NI. "The M-Sport team gave us a perfect package. We'll push for maximum points in Croatia – nothing's decided yet."
Notable Retirements
- Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia) exits after dual engine fires
- 6 crews fail to finish challenging Welsh stages
Upcoming Calendar
Event | Date | Championship Impact |
---|---|---|
Rally Croatia | Oct 12-14 | ERC Title Decider |
Cambrian Rally | Oct 26-28 | BRC Finale |