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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.
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Fermanagh native Jon Armstrong fully prepared for Rally Poland despite route revamp
Kesh native Jon Armstrong knows what to expect from the Orlen Oil 81st Rally Poland despite a revamped route. A brace of tenth place finishes in Hungary and Scandinavia is scant reward for his efforts thus far where he has taken a strong share of the Power Stage points on both rallies. On what will be his fourth appearance in the event — with class wins on previous outings — Armstrong and his Donegal co-drive Shane Byrne will be aiming to maximise the former's experience and knowledge. 'It gets very rutted on the second pass of the stages because the surface is quite sandy and gets dug up with every car that passes." Onboard his Pirelli shod M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2, he added, 'You have to trust the car in the ruts and really commit to them — there can be surprises waiting in them. Then you have the tricky sections through villages on tarmac with a gravel set-up." Not that he will have time to admire the scenic surroundings during an event that has ERC status for the 55th time, he concluded, "The Polish lake district is a lovely part of the world.' It's the third and final gravel event on the ERC season. There are some six ERC champions in the line-up with Martins Sesks and local hero Miko Marczyk in a pair of Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars following top seed Roope Korhonen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) off the start ramp. ERC leader Korhonen holds a three points advantage over Marczyk, who won this event in 2022. Others like Mads Ostberg (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Andrea Mabellini (Skoda Fabia Rally2) will be aiming to close the deficit. Armstrong is seeded at eight. Meanwhile, there is a strong Irish contingent in the Junior ERC category including reigning Billy Coleman Young Driver of the Year award winner Cavan's Craig Rahill, who was fourth in the category in Spain earlier in the season. Speaking yesterday to the Irish Examiner after he concluded his recce of the first three stages, he said, "I'm looking forward to it. I don't have that much experience on gravel in comparison to tarmac so want to build that up, it's so important from that perspective." Cavan's Craig Rahill will compete in the Junior ERC category. File picture: Martin Walsh Rahill will campaign a Hankook shod Peugeot 208 Rally4 along with fellow Irish drivers Aoife Raftery and Keelan Grogan. Elsewhere, the line-up also features Tipperary's Casey J Coleman (Ford Fiesta Rally3) and Louth's Brendan Cumiskey (Ford Fiesta R4). The action begins this (Friday) evening with the head-to-head 2.5km Mikołajki Arena super special with seven stages tomorrow and six on Sunday culminating with the Power Stage. Sadly, Junior ERC driver Italian Matteo Doretto, 21, lost his life during a private test on Wednesday morning as he prepared for the event. His co-driver Samuele Pellegrino was taken to hospital for precautionary checks but was uninjured. Doretto, who won the Italian Junior series last year, was in his maiden season in the ERC where he was a popular member of the ERC family, The FIA European Rally Championship family have extended its deepest sympathies. Former Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year, Charlie Eastwood competes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that starts tomorrow afternoon. The Belfast TF Sport driver accompanies Angolan-Portuguese driver Rui Andrade and Belgian Tom Van Rompuy in the #81 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R. Eastwood was a class winner with Aston Martin Racing in 2020. The addition on Monday last of double European Rally champion, Hayden Paddon to the entry for next week's Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally is generating great interest. The New Zealander replaces Welsh ace Matt Edwards, who announced on Sunday that he had decided to withdraw from the three day rally, citing the recent tragedy on the Jim Clark Rally and accidents in rallies in Cavan and Barbados as the reason. In line with the rules, Paddon will now steer the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 with Cork native David Moynihan calling the pacenotes. Along with Kris Meeke, who withdrew after the Jim Clark and Cavan events, Eddie Doherty, Sam Moffett, Jason Mitchell and Tommy Doyle have withdrawn their entries. Read More Indiana bench shines as Pacers overtake Thunder late for 2-1 lead in NBA finals
