Northern Ireland's Jon Armstrong claimed his first European Rally Championship podium on Sunday, while Kris Meeke triumphed in the Portuguese Rally Championship.
Armstrong and co-driver Eoin Treacy finished second in Poland after a stunning final day in the ERC.
The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew started the second day of action in seventh place, but five stage wins on Sunday vaulted them into podium contention.
M-Sport Ford driver Armstrong was fastest on the final power stage to move into second place past Hayden Paddon, who clinched the title by finishing third.
The 30-year-old ended up 18.3 seconds behind rally winner Andrea Mabellini.
"This is right up there with some of my best achievements," said Armstrong, who is a two-time runner up in the Junior WRC.
"I would say this is one of my best events I have ever done.
"Hopefully, this result puts me in the shop window again for next year. A full package again would be very nice or do other events and maybe a couple of WRC 2 rallies."
A Stunning Fightback
Armstrong's drive in Poland was nothing short of impressive, especially considering the troubled start he had to the rally. He dropped 44 seconds over the first three stages after experiencing an issue with the car's ECU.
"On the first proper stage, we had some sort of fault with the ECU and I couldn’t figure out what it was. There was no power," he explained.
Despite these setbacks, Armstrong rallied back on Saturday, posting two fastest stage times and gaining the confidence to push hard on the final day. "We took a step up the day before (Saturday), and we had to use that rhythm to push and carry the speed,” he said.
Armstrong's efforts were rewarded as he ultimately secured his first-ever podium finish in the ERC. His drive in Poland surpassed even his own expectations. "I think it is probably my best result ever," he reflected.
Meeke's Portuguese Triumph
Kris Meeke won five of the eight rallies in the Portuguese Championship
There was drama as Meeke, a five-time winner in the World Rally Championship, claimed the Portuguese Rally title by finishing in third place at Rallye Vidreiro Centro de Portugal.
The 45-year-old was originally disqualified for failing to stop at a tyre marking zone on the opening day after a late change to the rally's road book, and that was later downgraded to a three-minute penalty.
That was successfully appealed by his Team Hyundai Portugal, who provided fresh information, and the penalty was further reduced to one minute and 15 seconds.
A fired-up Meeke regrouped and worked his way through the order to finish in third place, which was good enough to win the title.
Meeke's victory was made even more impressive considering the difficult conditions he faced. "It was a very difficult rally, given the conditions and the climate – I really had to concentrate to keep errors to a minimum over both days," he said. "The objective this year for Team Hyundai Portugal was to win the Championship and to lift the title is nice, but we had some troubles in the middle two rallies of the year which set us back a bit, with Armindo always being second, the dropped score rule and the bulls**t decision from the stewards to think about. But anyway, I am really happy, especially for a company like Hyundai that invests a lot of money into a national championship like this, it is brilliant for the sport and I am really happy to bring them the title."
Looking Ahead
Both Armstrong and Meeke are now looking to capitalize on their recent successes and secure drives for the upcoming season. Armstrong is hoping to land a spot in WRC2, while Meeke is open to both ERC and WRC2 opportunities.
Armstrong's podium finish is a testament to his talent and determination. His ability to overcome adversity and fight back for a podium position highlights his resilience and competitive spirit. Meeke's victory in the Portuguese championship shows that he is still a force to be reckoned with in rallying, even after a long and successful career at the highest levels of the sport.
Both drivers are proving that age is just a number and that their passion for rallying is as strong as ever. Their successes are an inspiration to aspiring rally drivers around the world and a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
The future of both Armstrong and Meeke looks bright, and their fans will be eagerly awaiting their next endeavors on the world's rally stages.
