Armstrong and Byrne sixth as they continue to impress in Monte Carlo

The Ulster crew of Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne (Ford Puma Rally1) hold sixth position in Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the World Rally Championship. Picture: @World / Red Bull Content Pool.

As World Rally Championship Rally1 debutants Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne continue to impress and lead the M-Sport Ford challenge from sixth place on the second day of Rallye Monte Carlo, Swedish driver Oliver Solberg (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) retains a commanding lead of a minute and 8.4 seconds over his Welsh team mate Elfyn Evans with French driver and reigning champion Sebastien Ogier just 6.5s further behind to complete a Toyota lock-out of the top three places.

Again, the weather was a cocktail of conditions that added to the challenge. On the morning loop of three stages Solberg didn't offer his rivals any encouragement and was quickest on day's opening stage by 19.1 seconds. Although he lost some 30 seconds with a puncture on the middle stage he made an instant response on the final stage of the loop and arrived at the service park in Gap with a lead of a minute and 4.2 seconds. 

Second placed Evans admitted it was hard to find a rhythm while Ogier running behind Kilrea's Josh McErlean, who was first on the road under Super Rally rules, remarked, “We do what we can.” 

Neuville remained in fourth, his Hyundai team mate Adrien Fourmaux, who had issues with the handbrake, climbed one position. Kesh native Armstrong, who lost the spot on SS5 said, "Surprisingly it was manageable to drive, but you're losing some performance. Definitely, had the wrong tyres." He also had a few moments on SS6.

Elsewhere, two punctures for Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) and his Northern Ireland co-driver Aaron Johnston saw them drop time. Grégoire Munster (Ford Puma Rally1) also suffered punctures.

There was drama on the day's final stage - SS9 - first, McErlean/Treacy became beached in a snowbank when their Ford Puma Rally1 slid off the road. Shortly after, at about the two kilometre mark, Neuville also slid off and lost over three minutes, however, he was able to get the car back on the road and re-join the rally, ending the day in fifth.

Meanwhile, Armstrong, with three different tyre types, managed to stay out of any real trouble and is sixth overnight, he summarised his day. "It was pure survival to be fair, especially with two slicks on the car and two people are off in the first kilometres. There is no point pushing with our tyre combination (two super-softs, one winter and one studded tyre. Considering the issues we had today it's not been an easy day, but that's Monte."

Up front, Solberg was happy to have extended his lead as Ogier set his sights on Evans closing the gap between them to just 6.5s. The Wexford/Waterford crew of Eamonn Boland and MJ Morrissey (Ford Fiesta Rally2) are 17th in the WRC2 category. There are four stages tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday.

Rallye Monte-Carlo (Round 1, World Rally Championship) Gap, Monaco (Positions at end of Day 2): 1. O. Solberg/E. Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 2h. 11m. 13.1s; 2. E. Elfyn/S. Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+1m. 08.4s; 3. S. Ogier/V. Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+1m. 14.9s; 4. A. Fourmaux/A. Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+5m. 05.2s; 5. T. Neuville/M. Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+6m. 05.3s; 6. J. Armstrong/S. Byrne (Ford Puma Rally1)+7m. 18.8s; 7. H. Paddon/J. Kennard (Hyundai i20 N Rally1)+7m. 42.1s; 8. L. Rossel/G. Mercoiret (Citroen C3 Rally2)+8m. 27.5s;9. E. Camilli/T. de la Haye (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+9m. 07.1s; 10. N. Gryazin/K. Aleksandrov (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2)+9m. 08.8s.