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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Struggle for Armstrong and Byrne at Royal Rally of Scandinavia
Luck continues to desert the Irish crew of Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne, who ended the first leg of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, the third round of the European Rally Championship, in 12th place. Scandinavian aces, Norway's Eyvind Brynildsen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Sweden's Isak Riersen (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are locked in a tense tussle with the former holding a 5.1s advantage. However, three others - Roope Kornhonen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), Frank Larsen (VW Polo GTi R5) and Andrea Mabellini (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are all within 22s of the lead heading into Saturday's final leg of eight stages. For Armstrong it was another day of highs and lows, from an impressive stage win on the SS4 to come within 9.5s of rally leader Brynildsen, further progress was halted just 3.2km into SS5 when he was forced to stop and change a punctured front wheel. 'We just went a bit too early in a corner over a crest and hit a bit of rock on the inside that was sticking out and I didn't spot it on the recce.' He added, 'These stages, you start going (cutting) more early everywhere because everyone is doing it and just end up seeing lines that weren't there when you started so we got a puncture and stopped to change it. It's frustrating." Fellow Irish driver Philip Allen (who won the qualifying stage) was only 6.1s off top spot before his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 went off on a slippery tarmac section some 8.2km into the same stage. To his credit, Armstrong made a good recovery on the afternoon's three stages and clawed back six places. Rain on the day's final stage made for a tricky situation. "It was hard to keep a rhythm, a bit too much sliding with the rain, let's see what tomorrow brings." Brynildsen moved into the lead after SS4 and while Mads Ostberg (Citroen C3 Rally2) occupied second from SS5, a puncture on the penultimate stage saw him slip to eighth - 40.1s off the lead. In a post on Instagram, Kris Meeke (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) has postponed his entry for the Donegal International Rally out of respect for his co-driver Brian Hoy and the tragic events on last week's Jim Clark Rally. Hoy was co-driver for Garry Jennings during last Sunday's Cavan Rally when the pair were injured in a crash. Eslewhere, the entry list for the Donegal International Rally (June 20/22) was announced on Friday evening. The top 10 is: 1. Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 3. Jon Armstrong (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 4. William Creighton (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2); 5. Matt Edwards (Hyundai i20 Rally2); 6. Josh Moffett (Citroen C3 Rally2); 7. Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5); 8. Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), 9. Sam Moffett (Hyundai i20 Rally2); 10. Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia (Round 3: European Rally Championship) Positions after Leg 1: E. Brynildsen/J. Listerud (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 47m. 59.1s; 2. I. Reiersen/S. Gustavsson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+5.1s; 3. R. Korhonen/A. Viinikka (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+6.8s; 4. F. Larsen/L. Lundgreen (VW Polo GTi R5)+48m. 07.7s; 5. A. Mabellini/V. Lenzi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+22.0s; 6. M. Marczyk/S. Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+32.4s; 7. M. Johansson/J. Gronvall (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+34.2s; 8. M. Ostberg/L. Karlsson (Citroen C3 Rally2)+40.1s; 9. S. Tempestini/S. Itu (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+50.4s; 10. S. Lefebvre/A. Malfoy (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+1m. 01.8s; 11. J. Matulka/D. Syty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 32.6s; 12. J. Armstrong/S. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 18.5s.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Crunch time for Armstrong and Byrne in Scandinavia
Regarded as one of the fastest events, the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia is the latest setting for Irish pair Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne, who need to garner some top points for their European Rally Championship bid. The 17-stage Karlstad-based rally is a familiar location for the 30-year-old Kesh driver, who made his Rally2 debut at this level two years ago. 'It's primarily on roads used every day, so they're very wide and compact. But you've got quite a lot of loose gravel on top, so you want a lower road position to avoid road sweeping. It's all about carrying your speed, getting your lines right and keeping your right foot down as much as possible," said Armstrong. The former ERC3 champion will take encouragement from his pace in Rally Hungary, where he was only some 10 seconds off the lead after five stages before two punctures dropped him well down the order. "When you've lost that much time, you just have to try to reset and get back to the front again, just try to keep your pace up.' Points on the board for Armstrong/Byrne will be important, especially after their non-finish in the first round in Spain. While they recovered to finish 10th in Hungary, the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team crew will push the Pirelli-shod Ford Fiesta Rally2 to the maximum. Armstrong continued: 'Sweden's a different character rally (in comparison to the rough stages in Hungary) there will be lots of locals, but we have to give it a good go, it's my third year here, so I need to keep the right foot down. "It's not been a good start to the season but at least we have some pace. We just need some luck and a result and hopefully that will come.' Those locals include Isak Reiersen (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and reigning ERC Junior champion Mille Johansson (20), who has upgraded to a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 for his home event. Fresh from his ERC winning debut outing in Hungary, much is expected of Finland's Roope Korhonen in his MRF Tyres Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 and his battle with championship leader Miko Marczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and the similar car of Andrea Mabellini, Citroen C3 Rally 2 duo Mads Ostberg and Max McRae, Jos Verstappen and Simone Tempestini - both in Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars and inaugural Junior ERC champion Stéphane Lefebvre (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) should be interesting. Armstrong, seeded at nine, should be very much in the mix. Meanwhile, and in the absence of championship leader Cashel's Pat O'Connell, who is on a family vacation, there's a strong possibility that the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally series will have a new leader at the end of Saturday's Mayo Forest Rally, the fourth round of the championship. Tyrone's Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia Rs Rally2) is best placed to take advantage as he seeks to continue his good form having won on his two outings to date. He won last time out in Mitchelstown to close to within five points of O'Connell, however, given the shorter nature of tomorrow's event - just 45.16km - there will be room for error. Having made a good start, reigning champion Monaghan's Derek Mackarel (Ford Fiesta R5) has struggled with problems on his last two outings while Waterford's Andrew Purcell (Ford Fiesta Rally2) will be determined to turn the tables on Mitchell on this occasion. Others like the Tyrone trio of Gareth Mimnagh, Niall McGonigle and Stephen Dickson, all in Ford Fiesta Rally2 cars, provide the top opposition. The Mk.2 Escorts of Tyrone's Hugh McQuaid and Donegal's Damien Tourish are the top seeds in the two-wheel drive category where the Peugeot 208 Rally4 pair Cian Caldwell and Keelan Grogan and Jack Harris (Ford Fiesta) should make an impression. There are some twenty-six entries in the J1000 category led by the VW UP of Kilkenny's David Travers with a debut for former karter Meath's Holly Dunnion (Peugeot 107). The first of the six stages begins at 9.31am. Elsewhere, the Skibbereen Endurance Trial that has twenty selectives over the day has a 10.00am start on Sunday from the Carbery Rangers GAA complex in Rosscarbery.
Irish Examiner
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Armstrong and Byrne recover to secure tenth place at European Rally Championship
Fighting back from a double puncture on Saturday's leg that relegated the Irish crew of Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne to 25th position, the pair made a spirited recovery to claim 10th place in Rally Hungary, the second round of the European Rally Championship. Armstrong was denied victory and the maximum five points by fellow Irish driver Philip Allen (Skoda Fabia Rally2) who won the Power Stage by 1.9s. The event was won by Finland's Roope Korhonen (Toyotas GR Yaris Rally2) on what was his maiden ERC outing and also his first international rally win as he finished 30.1s ahead of the Citroen C3 Rally2 of Norway's Mads Ostberg. Italian ace Andrea Mabellini (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) forged ahead on Saturday morning's first stage with Armstrong just 3.9s behind in second and although he slipped to third after the morning loop, Armstrong was only 10.6s off top spot. Mabellini and Armstrong had identical times on SS5 but the Kesh driver's Ford Fiesta Rally2 collected two punctures on the day's penultimate stage. 'The first puncture was in a rough section but then the second one we were stuck in dust and going slowly and I don't even know what happened there.' He added, 'To get two in the one stage is pretty unlucky, it's a big shame as everything was going quite well.' Armstrong finished the stage down in 25th position - six minutes and 11.2s off the lead. He was second quickest on the day's final stage and was 24th overnight. Mabellini ended Saturday's leg (six stages) with a 10.6s advantage over Korhonen with last year's event winner Simone Tempestini (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 30.8s off top spot. Beginning his recovery with third fastest times on Sunday's opening pair of stages, Armstrong then lost time with a puncture on SS10. He showed fine pace on the final three stages with a fourth, first and second fastest stage time. "A bit frustrated, we knew we had the pace to be on the podium, but just too many issues along the way. Positive to show the pace on gravel and shows that the Fiesta can do it. Shane (his co-driver) and the whole team have done a great job." Tempestini retired with a broken steering while Mabellini suffered tyre damage before bowing out with a broken damper. Meanwhile, Tyrone's Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia Rally2) and his Donegal co-driver Paddy McCrudden survived a huge overshoot on the final stage to win the Mitchelstown based Sean Conlon Memorial Forest Rally, round three of the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship. They finished a mere 3.2s ahead of the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Waterford's Andrew Purcell and his Blackpool co-driver Liam Brennan. Armagh's Darren Gass (VW Polo GTi R5) and his Scottish co-driver Neil Shanks were 17s. further behind in third. Pre-event series leader and top seed Cashel's Pat O'Connell (Ford Fiesta R5) ended the opening stage down in tenth place after a front left wheel puncture. Purcell (Ford Fiesta Rally2) was the early pacesetter leading Mitchell by 1.3s with Niall McGonigle (Ford Fiesta rally2) 4.3s further behind. Mitchell, with a steady pace was best on SS2 (Kilcoran) to snatch the lead from Purcell, who was 7.4s behind. O'Connell won the third and final stage of the loop (Kilworth) and slotted into third. The hanging dust was a problem for Purcell, who was lucky to escape when he was on the wrong line (due to the dust) through a junction. Armagh's Darren Gass in an ex-Hayden Paddon VW Polo GTi R5 was on his first Irish gravel event in some fifteen years. Fifth placed Niall McGonigle burst two dampers on the second stage and has his Ford Fiesta Rally2 on two wheels at a hairpin but retrieved the situation. Reigning national champion Derek Mackarel lost time when the power steering of his Fiesta R5 cut out on the second, he was 34.8s off the lead. Entering the final stage there was only 9.9s between Mitchell and Purcell. Mitchell had his overshoot drama as the hanging dust posed a problem with only a minute interval between the top crews. O'Connell posted the stage win but McGonigle crashed and the stage interruption rule was applied to the remaining cars. Rally Hungary (Round 2, European Rally Championship): 1. R Korhonen / A Viinikka FIN Toyota GR Yaris) 1h. 50m. 30.7s; 2. M Østberg / T Eriksen (Citroën C3 Rally2)+30.1s; 3. M. Marczyk/S. Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+31.4s. 4. I. Reiersen/S. Gustavsson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+2m. 10.1s; 10. J. Armstrong/S. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+8m. 42.4s. Sean Conlon Memorial Forest Rally (Round 3, Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship) Mitchelstown: 1. J. Mitchell/P. McCrudden (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 38m. 25.9s; 2. A. Purcell/L. Brennan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+3.2s; 3. D. Gass/N. Shanks (VW Polo GTi R5)+20.2s; 4. P. O'Connell/M. Wiley (Ford Fiesta R5)+31.7s; 5. D. Mackarel/E. Creedon (Ford Fiesta R5)+46.7s; 6. J. Dunphy/G. Shinnors (Ford Fiesta R5)+58.4s; 7. S. Dickson/B. Teggart (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 02.3s; 8. G. Mimnagh/J Barry McCarney (Ford Fiesta R5)+1m.03.4s; 9. D. Guest/L. Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 35.0s; 10. M. O'Brien/J. Cotter (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m.14.9s.
Irish Examiner
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motors: Armstrong aware of tough task in Rally Hungary 'mini Safari'
M-Sport Ford driver Jon Armstrong is very aware of his task in this weekend's Rally Hungary, the second round of the European Rally Championship where he will be co-driven by Donegal's Shane Byrne as the pair bid to open their championship account. Having switched from tarmac to gravel last year and based in the city of Veszprém, it's the first of the three ERC gravel events for Kesh native Armstrong and his fellow ERC contenders. 'Rally Hungary is massively tough. It's like a mini Safari. Ok, you don't have the fesh-fesh but there's a lot of undulation in terms of jumps into crests and dips. You have a lot of bedrock so it's tough on the tyres. It's based out of the military area of Hungary and the roads are quite beaten up. The suspension is tested to the maximum.' Last year he finished eighth but will be looking to improve on that result. 'I will try to build on what we learned last year and continue to work with Shane (Byrne) building on some good pace on Rally Sierra Morena (opening round), the main goal is to get some solid points on the board. We are putting in the effort in the background, hopefully, it will start to pay off.' With 28 others in the Rally2 category, Armstrong has to be on the pace right from the beginning of the 13-stage event. Last year's winner Romania's Simone Tempestini (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) also knows how difficult the event is. 'There are sections that are open and wide where you can see what is ahead. But, at the same time, you really have to take care about bumps and stones and the really high speed. Then you go in other stages that are completely different with a soft surface and many surprises.' He is joined by his MRF Tyres team mate and 2023 FIA WRC3 title winner and reigning Finnish champion Roope Korhonen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Miklós Csomós (Citroen C3 Rally2) , who finished third last year. The experienced Mads Ostberg also in a Citroen - but on Michelin tyres — should be at the cutting edge as should fellow Citroen ace Max McRae, steps up to the ERC Rally2 category. Northern Ireland's Philip Allen (Skoda Fabia Rally2) is also competing. Following tonight's head-to-head super special stage there are six stages tomorrow and six more on Sunday. Craig Rahill, Keelan Grogan and Aoife Raftery are amongst the Junior ERC category entry in their Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars. "We got a taste for what the car is like on the Moonraker Rally, but altogether, we have very little seat time on gravel this year. Our aim is to find a comfortable pace and try to stay out of trouble." said Rahill. Carrick on Suir's Casey Jay Coleman (Ford Fiesta Rally3) is amongst the 13 strong ERC3 entry. *** Meanwhile, Cashel's Pat O'Connell (Ford Fiesta R5) heads the entry for Sunday's Mitchelstown-based Sean Conlon Memorial Tipperary Forest Rally, the third round of the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship. With his closest championship rivals Vivian Hamill and Niall Devine not making the long trip south, O'Connell has the opportunity to stretch his current three points championship advantage on the six stage event. Reigning champion Monaghan's Derek Mackarel (Ford Fiesta R5), who slid off on the last round, has a quick opportunity to get back into the frame. However, Tyrone's Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Waterford's Andrew Purcell, Niall McGonigle and Gareth Mimnagh, all in Ford Fiesta Rally2 cars will not make it easy. It will be interesting to see how former Irish Tarmac champion Darren Gass (VW Polo GTI R5) will fare on what is a rare gravel outing. The top ten also includes the Ford Fiesta Rally2's of Clonakilty's David Guest and Northern Ireland duo Stephen Dickson and Martin Cairns. Tyrone's Hugh McQuaid and Donegal's Damien Tourish, both in Ford Escort RS1800's head the Modified category.
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan claim fourth successive victory in the Rally of the Lakes
Taking the lead on the Moll's Gap stage on Sunday morning, Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and his Killarney co-driver Noel O'Sullivan went on to claim a fourth successive victory in the Rally of the Lakes, the third round of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. On the 14-stage event, underpinned by Assess Ireland, they finished 14 seconds ahead of Welsh driver Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) guided by Killarney's Ger Conway with the Hyundai i20 Rally2 of Welsh ace Matt Edwards and his Cork born co-driver David Moynihan 4.3s further behind in third. Saturday's action was over a loop of three stages - two to the east and one to the north of Killarney - all repeated three times. Onboard his Citroen C3 Rally2, reigning Irish Tarmac champion Keith Cronin was in superb form and with three fastest stage times the Ballylickey ace moved into an impressive 13.7s lead. "There's a lot of loose gravel on the first two stages, the third stage is fine," said Cronin at the Liebherr service complex, cautiously adding: "I'm not one hundred per cent confident yet, we made a few improvements to the car and they are working well but I have a small bit of understeer." Evans occupied second spot - 5.1s ahead of Devine with Edwards (fourth) 19.1s off top spot in a top six completed by David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5). While Devine was Cronin's closest pursuer on SS1 (Headford), Doherty showed fine pace and slotted into second on SS2 (Lisbabe) despite issues with the pop-off valve that proved more of a distraction than anything else. He remarked: "The tyres didn't work for that third stage (Red Bog) and I lost a good bit of time." Evans, akin to others found a patch of water on SS2, that like the opening stage was quite gravelly. Cronin's rally ended abruptly on SS4 when his Citroen seemed to be a little airborne entering a lefthander, unfortunately, it careered to the right, clipped a bank before it rolled several times. Fortunately, himself and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin escaped injury. Their demise promoted Evans into the lead that stood at 2.5s from Edwards with Devine and Doherty tying for third, a further 6.7s behind. Stage by stage the quartet eased themselves away from the chasing pack led by Donegal's Michael Boyle (VW Polo GTi R5), who was 28.1s further adrift. Evans could have been further ahead were it not for stalling his Toyota GR Yaris on SS5 while a delay at the start of SS6 led to cold tyres. Devine benefitted from a few tweaks to what he described as a "few things" while Doherty, once more couldn't find the pace on the final stage. "It must be the car as I think I am going as hard as I can." Edwards was ramping up his pace and with a growing confidence, it came as no surprise when he took the lead on SS7 where Devine also upped his pace, Evans was second but a 1.7s blanket covered the top trio illustrating the intensity of the rally. Edwards was best on the final two stages and led Evans at the overnight halt by 4.8s with Devine ominously close - half a second further behind. Doherty, Michael Boyle and Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia Rally2) completed the top six. Rob Duggan (Ford Escort) led the Modified category by almost a minute but experienced alternator trouble while fellow local Colin O'Donoghue had issues with the water pump of his Escort. With more experience than his rivals over the first run over Moll's Gap and Ballaghbeama it came as no surprise that Devine dominated both and moved into an 8.7s lead over Edwards with Evans another 6.3s behind. Devine admitted to pushing hard on "The Gap" where he clipped a bale soon after the start. Then, on Shanara, Edwards was quickest to trim the deficit to 7.1s. Edwards was happy given his lack of experience as his Hyundai had some understeer on the fast corners. Evans was an additional 5.1s behind in third. Doherty, who was 24s quicker on the Gap than he was twelve months ago, remained in fourth while Declan Boyle leapfrogged his son Michael into fifth when the latter slipped of the Ballaghbeama stage and dropped time. Declan's Skoda boiled the brakes at the start of Moll's Gap and he had no brake pedal until around two kilometres into the classic stage. Devine sealed a fine win courtesy of the best times on the repeat of Moll's Gap and Ballaghbeama and he eased off to claim the laurels. Evans edged out Edwards for third spot after the latter punctured on the penultimate stage. The top six was unchanged as seventh placed Rob Duggan (Escort) took the Modified honours. Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes (Round 3, NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Killarney 1. C. Devine/N. O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1h. 48m. 15.7s 2. M. Evans/G. Conway (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+14.0s 3. M. Edwards/D. Moynihan (Hyundai i20 Rally2)+18.3s 4. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia R5) 42.7s 5. D. Boyle/P. Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+2m. 35.9s 6. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (VW Polo GTI R5) +2m. 43.3s 7. R. Duggan/J. McCarthy (Ford Escort)+5m. 12.3s 8. R. Caldwell/S. O'Brien (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+5m. 14.6s 9. K. Eves/C. Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+5m. 30.3s 10. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+5m. 49.7s.
