Motorsport: Struggle for Armstrong and Byrne at Royal Rally of Scandinavia

The pair ended the first leg in 12th. 

NORTHERN EXPOSURE: The Irish crew of Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2) pictured during the opening leg of the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, round three of the Europoean Rally Championship. Picture: World / Red Bull Content Pool 

Luck continues to desert the Irish crew of Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne, who ended the first leg of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, the third round of the European Rally Championship, in 12th place.

Scandinavian aces, Norway's Eyvind Brynildsen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Sweden's Isak Riersen (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are locked in a tense tussle with the former holding a 5.1s advantage. However, three others - Roope Kornhonen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), Frank Larsen (VW Polo GTi R5) and Andrea Mabellini (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are all within 22s of the lead heading into Saturday's final leg of eight stages.