Jon Armstrong clinched his first outright WRC stage victory when his Ford Puma took Stage 5 of the Acropolis Rally Greece by 0.6 s over nine‑time champion Sébastien Ogier.
The Northern Irishman climbed to third overall by the stage’s end, capitalising on an early road‑position advantage on the slippery gravel sections.
Armstrong, co‑driven by Shane Byrne, admitted surprise: “We thought after the tarmac season that would be our best hope, but to get it on gravel is brilliant.”
A double puncture on the next stage forced a turbo failure in the Puma, ending the drive before the following leg.
M‑Sport’s response
Team principal Richard Millener applauded the rookie: “He’s proved he belongs in the WRC… He had a tough spell earlier in the year but now he’s back on the pace.”
Team position after the rally
Missing Armstrong, Josh McErlean finished fourth overall, 7.2 s ahead of teammate Martins Sesks, while McErlean highlighted a clean day and better road position for tomorrow; Sesks said early punctures disrupted tyre strategy.
Looking ahead
The win underlines Armstrong’s potential on gravel, whereas M‑Sport will need to address technical setbacks and target the top position as the season progresses.
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