I'll need to be quick learner for Donegal International Rally bid: Jon Armstrong
Jon Armstrong says he is going to have to learn the ropes quickly on this month's Donegal International Rally if he hopes to be in the mix come the final leg of the three-day event.
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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Dungannon driver Kris Meeke reveals the big challenge he faces in latest Portuguese test
He is returning to a rally he won back in 2023 — and came close to conquering last year only for a throttle issue and a late puncture to deny him — in a car he has never driven in anger on Tarmac before. To complicate matters further, the competitive route for the two-day, closed-road fixture has undergone a number of tweaks as organisers attempt to increase the challenge for competitors. A shakedown test has been planned by the Sports & You team for the Dungannon man and team-mate Stuart Loudon to help the 45-year-old dial in the new Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris Rally2 on asphalt. 'It will undoubtedly be an interesting challenge,' admitted Meeke, who had been due to travel from Portugal to Letterkenny for next weekend's Donegal International Rally before having a change of heart following the death of Dai Roberts while competing on the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland, and his co-driver for Donegal — Brian Hoy — suffering injuries in a crash on the Cavan Stages Rally. 'It will be my first time with the new Yaris on asphalt, so there is going to be a lot to learn. In addition, we have not driven competitively on asphalt since last October's Vidreiro Rally, so the test is going to be essential to gain confidence — and help us prepare ourselves as best possible.' Meeke's winning start to the defence of his Portuguese crown came to an end on May's Rally de Portugal when late suspension failure on the final stage meant he was unable to make it back to parc ferme and collect another maximum points haul for topping the timesheets. He added: 'Rally de Portugal was obviously very disappointing, but that is behind us now. There are many new aspects to the Castelo Branco Rally and looking at the route, there are new special stages, and that means prior knowledge will not carry as much weight. 'It makes everything even more competitive, it will certainly be a close fight, especially with people like Dani (Sordo, Team Hyundai Portugal), but I am excited about the challenge.' Rali de Castelo Branco begins on Friday with four short stages and continues on Saturday when crews will tackle a further eight speed tests, the last of which is scheduled to get underway at 9.30pm UK time. Meanwhile, Kesh driver Jon Armstrong is also in action this weekend as he resumes his FIA European Rally Championship campaign at Rally Poland with Shane Byrne and M-Sport Ford.
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
I'll need to be quick learner for Donegal International Rally bid: Jon Armstrong
Jon Armstrong says he is going to have to learn the ropes quickly on this month's Donegal International Rally if he hopes to be in the mix come the final leg of the three-day event.
BBC News
04-03-2025
- BBC News
Armstrong ready to 'push' for European rally title
Jon Armstrong says he wants to "push" for the European Rally Championship (ERC) title after announcing a full campaign driving a M-Sport Ford 30-year-old, from Northern Ireland, recorded four top-10 finishes and earned a podium, second place at the season-ending Rally Silesia in October, in the ERC last was ERC3 champion in 2023, the second tier of European rallying, and is a two-time runner-up in the Junior WRC, which runs as part of the World Rally by Motorsport Ireland, Armstrong will be co-driven by Shane Byrne for the first time."I'm really looking forward to being back with M-Sport again for the ERC, we can now really build upon everything we learnt from last year," said Armstrong. "We had a really good end to the season, so hopefully we can work on the areas we didn't capitalise on last year, try to have a really good season and hopefully push to be in the championship fight."M-Sport team principal Richard Millener said it was a "huge pleasure" to welcome Jon and Motorsport Ireland back to the team for 2025."We saw some really positive development in his pace and maturity throughout last year in the Rally2 car, and I think we can set our sights on some top results from him and Shane this season," he and Byrne will start their partnership at the West Cork Rally from 14-16 March before embarking on their European Sierra Morena in Spain opens the ERC season in April before events in Hungary, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, Wales and Croatia.
