Jon Armstrong claimed his first-ever FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) victory by winning the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion 2025, boosting his outside chances in the title fight.

Co-driven by Shane Byrne, Armstrong mastered the 12 demanding Welsh asphalt stages, including two rain-hit tests on Sunday, to secure a landmark win. Driving an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Mk II, he finished 29.2 seconds clear of team-mate Romet Jürgenson, delivering M-Sport’s first ERC win since Adrien Fourmaux’s triumph at Rally Islas Canarias in 2020.

An emotional Armstrong said:
“It has been a lot of hard work and a lot of years rallying and to get here is amazing. A big thanks to M-Sport, and to have a 1-2 for them is incredible. I just can’t believe it, it will take a while to sink in.”

Marczyk Holds Title Lead, Mabellini Fights Back

Championship leader Miko Marczyk completed the podium in third, while closest rival Andrea Mabellini staged a strong recovery drive to finish sixth despite a two-minute penalty before the rally. With just one round remaining at the Croatia Rally (3–5 October), the title battle is finely poised:

• Marczyk leads Mabellini by two points on dropped scores
• Armstrong sits 20 points adrift, still mathematically in contention

How the Rally Unfolded

Marczyk opened the rally by winning the Aberystwyth super special, but Armstrong quickly overturned the deficit in SS2. A spin in SS3 nearly cost the Irishman dearly, yet he regained composure to edge clear of the field.

Jürgenson starred on Saturday morning, cutting Armstrong’s advantage to just 0.2s, but Armstrong struck back in the afternoon with stage-winning pace. A strategic tyre call on Sunday morning proved decisive, as Armstrong opted against wets and powered through to victory with a dominant drive on SS11 – Nant y Moch 2.

Top 10 Results – Rali Ceredigion 2025

1. J. Armstrong / S. Byrne (IRE) – Ford Fiesta Mk II – 1h 34m 52.0s
2. R. Jürgenson / S. Oja (EST) – Ford Fiesta Mk II +29.2s
3. M. Marczyk / S. Gospodarczyk (POL) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 +43.7s
4. W. Creighton / L. Regan (IRE) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 +1m 15.2s
5. O. Pryce / A. Hayes (GBR/IRE) – Hyundai i20 N Rally2 +2m 31.8s
6. A. Mabellini / V. Lenzi (ITA) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 +2m 59.5s
7. Callum Black (GBR)
8. Eamonn Kelly (ERC3 winner)
9. Ioan Lloyd (ERC4 winner)
10. Meirion Evans (GBR)

What’s Next?

The ERC title showdown will be decided in Croatia next month, with Marczyk, Mabellini, and Armstrong locked in a dramatic three-way fight for the 2025 crown.