Armstrong takes first BRC LIVE Media Trophy nomination
Jon Armstrong became the first finalist selected for the brand new BRC LIVE Media Trophy in association with Prodrive on the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally, the opening round of the 2013 British Rally Championship.
The 18 year old Fiesta R2 driver from Northern Ireland, along with his co-driver Martin Brady, had impressed the judges with their commitment to this new trophy and the pre-event PR and marketing coverage they achieved, handling much of the promotion themselves rather than a PR agent.
BRC bridge bouncing as Armstrong battles rally season opener
Jon Armstrong, the excitingly speedy teenager from Kesh Co Fermanagh, began his motorsport season in earnest on the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally in Carlisle last weekend, along with the fastest and most competitive fellow drivers in the MSA British Rally Championship.
Driving his family prepared Ford Fiesta, he took on the challenge of other crews in identical cars from the UK & Ireland and also Scandinavia. A tall order for Jon in what was his debut at this the sports highest British level. However such novice status did not deter him as he took to the stages with confidence and speed which led to a second fastest time amongst the Fiesta drivers on the opening test.
It was a positive indication of his ability behind the wheel and gave Jon and Martin Brady his Galway based co-driver the confidence to continue to try improve the pace as the miles passed.
Then cruel luck intervened, when half way through the next test, the car made the most fleeting of glances against the edge of a bridge and ricocheted the car up onto two wheels. Snapping the car back into control, Jon minimised the peril of the moment, but no such contact can go unpunished at that speed and Jon and Martin were to now find themselves hampered with a bent rear axle.
