Bitter disappointment for Irish crews at Rallye Monte-Carlo

Sweden's Oliver Solberg (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) celebrated a sensational victory in what was only his second Rally1 outing with the Toyota Gazoo Racing outfit as he became the youngest (24 years) ever winner of Rallye Monte Carlo.

Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne (Ford Puma Rally1) pictured during Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the World Rally Championship, unfortunately, they retired on the penultime stage. Pic: M-Sport Ford.

There was bitter disappointment for the M-Sport Ford Irish crews of Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne and Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy following their retirements on the penultimate stage of Rallye Monte-Carlo, the curtain raiser in this year's World Rally Championship.

Just some six hundred metres into SS16 Armstrong, holding a fine sixth place, slid off the road and into retirement. It was a cruel blow for the Kesh native, who was hugely impressive on his Rally1 and Monte-Carlo debut. McErlean, who was running first on the road under Super Rally rules, was caught out close to the stage finish when his Ford Puma Rally1 understeered into the Armco barrier smashing the front left wheel, although he eventually finished the stage, his car was too badly damaged to continue. It was the first time since 2001 that the M-Sport Ford WRT failed to score championship points in the opening round of the WRC.