For the second year in a row, Jon Armstrong is in a final round shoot-out for Junior WRC honours. The 27-year-old narrowly missed out on the World Rally Championship’s junior title in 2021, finishing in second place, but he’s aiming for one better this time around.

Armstrong and co-driver Brian Hoy are tied at the top of Junior WRC’s standings ahead of the series’ fifth and final round – Rally Greece.

In fact, only six points separate Junior WRC’s top four crews – a good indication of this year’s competitive pace.

2021 champions Sami Pajari and Enni Malkonen are tied with Armstrong and Hoy on 85 points, with Estonia’s Robert Virves just one point behind in third. Rally Croatia winner Lauri Joona is the final title contender, six points off the top spot.

“I’m feeling pretty good before our final round,” said Armstrong. “To be honest, I am just looking forward to it.

“There isn’t too much pressure and I am going to enjoy the event. I have never rallied in Greece before, and the Acropolis Rally has a huge heritage in WRC. It is a nice opportunity to compete in it.

“As for it being a title decider, we just have to enjoy the experience and focus on things that are under our control.

“I am feeling nice and relaxed, which hopefully will help towards getting back to the results we achieved at the start of the season.”

The all-Fermanagh crew have set the pace on several Junior WRC this year. Punctures and mechanical issues have hindered their results since winning Rally Sweden’s opener.

Crucial

A podium on the high-speed gravel stages of Rally Estonia was crucial to maintaining their title bid and ensuring it is all still to play for in Junior WRC’s 2022 finale.

In parallel to his rally-driving campaign, Armstrong has been battling to broker a budget to complete a full season this year.

After Rally Estonia, a fundraiser was organised by Fermanagh’s rallying community to relieve the two WRC prospects from the financial strains of competing at the world level.

The fundraiser was a success, with an endless list of rallying items auctioned off to many happy bidders.

Not only did it help Armstrong and Hoy secure an entry for Rally Greece, but it also showed how much their performances have been recognised by fans, drivers, co-drivers, and high-profile names from Ireland’s motorsport scene.

“The extra support we have received in the build-up to Greece has been fantastic.

“It was unbelievable to get everyone’s backing at the fundraiser and we are so thankful to everyone who helped.

“It was a great night and it definitely gives us an extra boost of confidence going into Greece.”

While Junior WRC’s young hopefuls will be eager to set the timing screens alight one last time, Greece’s tough, unforgiving terrain demands a wise approach to reach 2022’s final stop-control.

“Rally Greece has quite a mixture of stage characteristics, but in general they are twisty, rough, and rocky.

“It is going to be a difficult event and prove quite a challenge for the crews and cars.

“I think we are going to have to mark some of the bad places so we are prepared to push hard or back off in particular sections.

“As always, we will try to prepare as well as we can and hopefully that will put us in a good place when we start Greece’s first stage.”

Junior WRC’s six crews will complete a total of 16 stages, starting with a super-special inside Athens’ Olympic Stadium today, Thursday, September 8.

A further 300 stage kilometres spread out across different parts of the country will add to the demands of the rally which concludes around midday on Sunday, September 11.