World Rally Championship: John Armstrong impresses in Monte Carlo as Elfyn Evans finishes second

John Armstrong is fifth three stages into his World Rally Championship debut at the famous Monte Carlo Rally.

The M-Sport Ford driver finished sixth on the opening stage and was third fastest on the snow-covered second stage to move into third place overall.

Safety concerns in heavy fog led to the third stage being halted and Armstrong, who was midway through the stage when it stopped, was given a default time – which rally officials award to drivers who do not complete a stage under exceptional circumstances.

That dropped him to fifth overall, but it was still a great first day in the top class of rallying for the Northern Irish driver.

The 31-year-old is 1 minute and 34.5 seconds behind rally leader Oliver Solberg, who clocked an impressive time on the second stage to overtake Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans, after the Welsh driver was fastest in Thursday’s opener.

Evans was one of a number of drivers who complained of poor visibility before the stage was stopped.

“I couldn’t see anything, so it was probably the right decision [to stop the stage]Armstrong, driver of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, said.

“It’s a good start to the first day in Rally 1 and the first day in Monte Carlo, and I know I can drive, but it’s the surroundings that make me nervous.”

Defending champion Sebastien Ogier is in third place after topping the final stage before it stopped.

Irish Motorsport driver Josh McErlane suffered an early accident when he went off the icy road in the second stage, hit a tree and got stuck in a ditch, while Finn Sami Pajari suffered a similar fate with a broken wheel in his Toyota.

Makerlian will return to the rally after his accident.

The rally resumes on Friday with six stages, and the event ends with four stages on both Saturday and Sunday.

Monte Carlo Rally standings (after stage 3/17)

1. Oliver Solberg, captain of Sweden (Toyota).

2. Elvin Evans GB (Toyota) +44.7 seconds

3. Sébastien Ogier FRA (Toyota) +1m 8.6s

4. Thierry Neuville Bell (Hyundai) +1m25.9s

5. John Armstrong (Ford) +1m 34.5s

RET Josh McErlane IRL (Ford)