Armstrong proves pace on ERC's Royal Rally of Scandinavia

A puncture on Royal Rally of Scandinavia’s opening day of action cost Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne a top result on their latest European Rally Championship round.

The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew posted a fastest time on stage five, Gronlund, showing the same speed displayed on Thursday’s Qualifying Stage when they secured good road position thanks to setting a joint-third-fastest time.

Unfortunately, Armstrong and Byrne’s charge for the podium positions unravelled on the Swedish rally’s sixth stage - Varmskog. A puncture cost the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 crew over two minutes, dropping them to 18th on the leaderboard.

Armstrong ended Friday with a third- and second-fastest time on the Gaardsjo test before continuing his high-speed momentum on Saturday. A string of top-five stage times, including a second- and two third-fastest times on the rally’s final three stages, ensured the 30-year-old finished ERC’s third round inside the top ten.

A third-fastest time on the Royal Rally of Scandinavia’s Power Stage earned Armstrong an extra three points to the seven gained from his top ten finish.

Still, it was a frustrating weekend for Armstrong, who would have been in line for a top-four finish and fastest driver outside the Nordic territories, if he had enjoyed a puncture-free event.

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Five MI Rally Academy members were in Rally4 action on Saturday’s Mayo Forest Rally, the latest round of the Irish Forest Rally Championship.

Jack Harris and Aaron O’Regan continued their impressive form in their maiden season aboard a Ford Fiesta Rally4. Harris set two fastest times in Class 2 on his way to a runner-up finish in the competitive front-wheel-drive category.

“It was good to bounce straight back onto the pace after our non-finish in Tipperary,” reflected 20-year-old Harris. “The first loop went well, even though the grip levels were inconsistent throughout, making it hard to fully commit to braking points.

“Mayo was only our third gravel event in Rally4 so Aaron and I are feeling very confident with our pace on the gravel as we learn more every event about the Fiesta’s capabilities.”

Darragh Mullen joined his academy team-mates on Mayo’s Class 2 podium as he finished third alongside Fiesta Rally4 pilot Oran England.

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Junior ERC contender Keelan Grogan, and fellow academy member Killian McArdle, were forced to retire their Peugeot 208 Rally4 with radiator damage on Mayo’s opening loop of stages.