Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy’s Armstrong and Raftery are ready for the full day of competition at the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia after a busy opening Thursday
Shakedown, ceremonial start and the opening SuperSpecial have been completed by the two Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crews on what was a busy opening at the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia.
Both Jon Armstrong and Aife Raftery are contesting the third round of the FIA European Rally Championship.
The BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia is based in the city of Karlstad and takes place on roads made famous by Rally Sweden.
Jon Armstrong is counting on Rally2 experience when he starts this weekend’s BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia.
Armstrong and his Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy co-driver Eoin Treacy are competing in an M-Sport run Ford Fiesta Rally two and will start Friday’s eight-stage leg behind one of the most famous names in rallying.
Last year Armstrong drove a Ford Fiesta Rally2 for the MRF Tyres Dealer Team in the Karlstad-based event in what was his maiden outing in a top-flight car in a FIA European Rally Championship event.
“They are using a lot of the same stages so we can use last year’s notes,” said Armstong on the start podium in Karlstad on Thursday evening just before setting the fifth fastest time on the opening test.
“It is the same for car set-up, we know more or less what the car can do, it is bonkers what you can do in a Rally2 car on these amazing roads. We are starting behind Petter Solberg, that is a dream come true.”
Galway-based Aoife Raftery and co-driver Hannah McKillop have been putting in trojan work during the recce and behind the scenes as they aim to retain their third place in the Junior FIA Rally Championship.
Driving a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Peugeot 208 Rally4 she and McKillop are looking forward to the next two days of high-speed action in the Värmland and Karlstad areas of central Sweden.
“The roads here are really cool,” she said. “We are really happy with our recce and our pacenotes, and thanks to the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and my sponsors for all their support. It is a really cool event.”
The hub of the rally is the service park and HQ in Karlstad, the long-time home of the WRC Rally Sweden.
Friday’s stages are largely similar to last year and include two runs over the classic Colin’s Crest stage made-famous by WRC Rally Sweden.
Saturday is based east of Karlstad and the rally finishes at the service park with the official closing ceremony.
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