Armstrong & McErlean ready for 'special' Rally Croatia
Jon Armstrong says that Rally Croatia is a "special event" as he prepares for the fourth round of the World Rally Championship. M-Sport Armstrong won his first Junior WRC event in Croatia in 2021 and also won the European Rally Championship event there last year as he came up just short of the title. The 31-year-old from Northern Ireland is competing in his first season in the WRC's top tier and has a best finish of in eighth Sweden with co-driver Shane Byrne.
"It holds a lot of great memories," Armstrong said about the tarmac rally in Croatia. "This year's stages are closer to the coast, bringing a fresh challenge with a faster, more circuit-like flow. "After a strong pre-event test, I'm excited to see what kind of pace we can deliver.
" Scotland to host World Rally Championship race For his Motorsport Ireland team-mate Josh McErlean, he heads to Croatia looking to turn his season around after a disappointing start to the year. Three accidents in Monte Carlo put him on the back foot, before a ninth place in Sweden was followed by a Safari Rally Kenya that was plagued by technical issues. It will be his debut at Rally Croatia, and he says "what's done is done this season".
"I can't change it, but I can learn from it," said McErlean, who is co-driven by Eoin Treacy. "Getting the absolute basics right will mean that the pace we are looking for will come along more easily". He added that Croatia will be a "good challenge" and the "basics need to be nailed".
"Croatia is another important rally for me to keep improving on tarmac and focus on myself, the feeling and my driving. "The goal is a clean, consistent weekend and to keep progressing. " Richard Millener, team principal at M-Sport, said the rally will give his drivers a "real opportunity to deliver strong performances".