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Irish Examiner
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Armstrong and Byrne secure podium finish in Poland
With an impressive performance, Kesh driver Jon Armstrong and his Bruckless co-driver Shane Byrne took the final podium spot in the ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland that marked the midpoint in the eight-round European Rally Championship. Onboard their Pirelli-shod M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2, they were second fastest on the Power Stage to claim an additional four championship points, and with a total haul of twenty-five championship points, Armstrong has moved into sixth in the series. It was his second ERC podium (he was second on this event last year when it was a tarmac rally) and his first podium with co-driver Byrne. The event was won by Estonians Martin Sesks/Renars Francis (Skoda Fabia Rally2), who finished a minute and 6.3s ahead of the similar car of ERC leaders and local heroes Mikolaj Marczyk/Szyman Gospodarczyk. Armstrong/Byrne were 9.5s further behind in third having been penalised 10s for what was termed "chicane destruction." Ninth in Friday night's super special at the Mikolajki Arena, Armstrong was only 2.1s off the lead and was up to sixth on Saturday morning's opening 16.3km stage and held the spot through the day's first loop of three stages. He posted his best time (third fastest) on SS4 - just 1.8s behind the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of stage winner and rally leader Martin Sesks. Quickly into the groove, Sesks snatched the lead from home hero Miko Marczyk on SS2 to open up a 9.3s lead over the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 of Roope Korhonen. However, on the very next stage, Sesks made a braking error on a fast right-hand corner that resulted in his Skoda having a brief off road excursion and losing its front bumper. The indiscretion allowed Korhonen trim the deficit to 1.5s. Unaware that he had actually lost the bumper, Sesks then established a 5.6s advantage over Korhonen with Marczyk third - 8.6s off top spot. On the repeat stages, Armstrong was in fine form, another third fastest stage time - on SS6, he leapfrogged Mads Ostberg into fifth, and with his third top three stage time (on SS7) he snatched fourth from Isak Reiersen. At the stage finish, he said: "It didn't rut as much, but I messed up the hairpin at the end. We were supposed to come out of it in second (gear) and we came out in fourth gear for some reason." Overnight, Armstrong was 8.7s behind Marczyk. Meanwhile, in the Junior ERC category, Cavan's Craig Rahill (Peugeot 208 Rally4) was the top Irish driver, he occupied fourth place - just 3s behind the similar car of Welsh ace Ioan Lloyd. On Sunday's final leg, Armstrong punched in the best time on the day's second stage where pre-event series leader Finland's Roope Korhonen rolled his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 out of second place and the rally. Following the Finnish driver's demise, stage winner Armstrong moved into third after SS10. Then, having closed to within 6.2s of Marczyk on SS11, he incurred a 10s penalty for "deconstructing" a chicane on SS12. He didn't allow it deflect his concentration and was second fastest on the remaining two stages to secure his best result of the year. "My first podium on gravel. Great weekend, Shane (Byrne) and the team did a great job. It's been a bit of a bleak year so far in terms of results, so really happy with this." In the Junior ERC Rahill, who had closed to within 1.8s of Lloyd on SS9 retired a stage later when his Peugeot 208 Rally4 slid wide and broke a driveshaft. In a fluctuating leaderboard where Swedish winner Calle Carlberg (Opel Corsa Rally4) was the only constant, Galway's Aoife Raftery, who began the day in ninth, ended up fourth with Leitrim's Keelan Grogan slipping to eighth, both in Peugeot 208 Rally4's. Belfast's Charlie Eastwood was a member of the TF Sport team along with Angolan-Portuguese driver Rui Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy (Belgium) that netted third place in the LMGT3 category in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the LMP2 category, the RLR Msport team (owned by Corkonian Patrick Cullen and included his son Ryan) were twelfth. ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland (Round 4, European Rally Championship) Mikolajki: 1. M. Sesks/R. Francis (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1h. 37m. 56.4s; 2. M. Marczyk/S. Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 06.3s; 3. J. Armstrong/S. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 15.8s; 4. I. Reiersen /S. Gustavsson (Skoda Fabia RS)+ 1m. 37.9s; 5. M. Ostberg/G. Bernacchini (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 54.9s; 6. S. Tempestini/I. Simone (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+2m. 34.4s; 7. M. Johansson/J. Gronvall (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+2m. 38.3s; 8. A. Mabellini/V. Lenzi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+2m. 49.6s; 9. J. Matulka/D. Syty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+3m. 32.2s; 10. K. Bubik/A. Sadowski (Skoda Fabia R5)+4m. 56.7s. European Rally Championship (Positions after Round 4): 1. M. Marczyk 81pts; 2. M. Ostberg 65pts; Roope Korhonen 60pts; Isak Reiersen 60pts; Andrea Mabellini 60pts; 6. Jon Armstrong 46pts; 7. Mille Johansson 41pts.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
European podium for Armstrong at Rally Poland
Motorsport Ireland driver Jon Armstrong picked up his best result of the European Rally Championship season by finishing third at Rally Rally Championship driver Martins Sesks won the rally by one minute and six seconds ahead of Polish driver Mikolaj Marczyk, with Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne 9.5 seconds further back in M-Sport driver ended the opening day of running in fourth place, and picked up a position when Roone Korhonen rolled out of second place on the 10th from Northern Ireland, started to challenge local hero Marczyk for second but picked up a 10-second penalty for clipping a bale at a chicane on the 12th proved to be costly as he finished 0.5 seconds in front, but the penalty kept him in third place. "What a weekend in Poland," said Armstrong. "I'm so pleased to have claimed my career-first gravel podium here, put down some good pace and come away with this great result for the team."The result, along with four additional bonus points for being second quickest on the final stage moves Armstrong up to sixth in the championship after four of the eight rounds. The next event takes place in Rome at the start of July.
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Rally champion, 21, killed in horror crash as tributes paid to tragic star
Matteo Doretto was just 21 years old when he lost control of his rally car during a test in Poland on Wednesday and hit a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene A rallying prodigy has been killed in a fatal crash, it has been confirmed. The FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) confirmed that Matteo Doretto had lost his life in an accident while testing, aged just 21. The Italian driver was killed during a test in Poland when he lost control of his car and hit a tree at the side of the road. Reports described the impact as "very violent" and images of the destroyed car show extensive damage to the driver's side, where Doretto would have been sat. The Italian racer was pronounced dead by a doctor at the scene of the crash, after firefighters had extracted his body from the wreckage. Co-driver Samuele Pellegrino suffered no major injuries but was taken to hospital as a precaution. Doretto was taking part in the test to prepare for the Rally of Poland, which is scheduled to take place this weekend. It forms part of the European Rally Championship in which former Formula 1 racer Jos Verstappen, father of four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen, competes. The 21-year-old was in the midst of his first ERC season, having landed a seat by winning the Italian junior title last year. "With potential in abundance, Matteo was polite, engaging but, above all, modest," the ERC said in a tribute statement. "To all of Matteo's family and friends, his co-drivers Andrea Budoia and Samuele Pellegrino, the MS Munaretto team and all who had got to know Matteo during his all-too-short time in the ERC, the FIA European Rally Championship family extends its deepest sympathies." Terenzio Testoni, a manager for tyre supplier Pirelli, said: "His loss is a tragedy that deeply saddens us. On behalf of Pirelli, I would like to extend our most heartfelt and sincere condolences to his family and friends. Just three weeks before his death on Wednesday, Doretto had finished third in the junior category at Rally Hungary. He was a member of the ACI Team Italia driver development programme and seemed to have a big future ahead of him in the motorsport world. The ERC said: "Despite the enormity of his achievement in Hungary, when he finished in third position in the young driver category, Matteo used his post-rally summing up to outline his desire to become even more competitive on gravel, while also looking ahead to his home event, next month's Rally di Roma Capitale." Doretto was born and raised near Venice in north-east Italy, to parents Michele and Barbara who were also rally drivers. He is survived by his mother, father and girlfriend, Melissa.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Italian rally driver Matteo Doretto dies aged 21 in crash
Italian rally driver Matteo Doretto has died in an accident while testing his car in Poland, the European Rally Championship says. Doretto was conducting a private test session on Wednesday morning for the upcoming Rally Poland 'when he lost his life in an accident,' the ERC said in a statement late Wednesday. It added that co-driver Samuele Pellegrino was unhurt. The FIA European Rally Championship is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Matteo Doretto during a private test for ORLEN OIL 81st Rally — FIA European Rally Championship (@FIAERC) June 11, 2025 The Automobile Club of Italy said Doretto hit a tree while testing his Peugeot 208 car in northeastern Poland. The 21-year-old Doretto was the Italian junior champion last year and was in his first season in the ERC. He was fourth in the junior standings. 'With potential in abundance, Matteo was polite, engaging but, above all, modest,' the ERC said. Related Topics European Rally Championship
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Italian rally driver Matteo Doretto dies aged 21 after crash in testing in Poland
Italian rally driver Matteo Doretto has died in an accident while testing his car in Poland, the European Rally Championship says. Doretto was conducting a private test session on Wednesday morning for the upcoming Rally Poland 'when he lost his life in an accident,' the ERC said in a statement late Wednesday. It added that co-driver Samuele Pellegrino was unhurt. The Automobile Club of Italy said Doretto hit a tree while testing his Peugeot 208 car in northeastern Poland. The 21-year-old Doretto was the Italian junior champion last year and was in his first season in the ERC. He was fourth in the junior standings. 'With potential in abundance, Matteo was polite, engaging but, above all, modest,' the ERC said.
