Armstrong, co-driven by Shane Byrne, produced an impressive drive across 12 challenging Welsh asphalt stages, including two final wet tests, to take the victory from M-Sport team-mate Romet Jürgenson by 29.2sec. The win was also a first for M-Sport and the Ford Fiesta Rally2 in ERC since Adrien Fourmaux won Rally Islas Canarias in November 2020.

“It has been a lot of hard work and a lot of years rallying and to get here is amazing," said an emotional Armstrong. "A big thanks to M-Sport and to have a 1-2 for them is amazing also, and it shows the car is great and everyone in the team. I just can’t believe it, it will take a while to sink in.

“It is all to play for in Croatia and it is another slippy rally, so anything is possible.”

Championship leader Miko Marczyk claimed the final place on the podium, while his nearest title rival Andrea Mabellini recovered from a two-minute penalty before the rally, to finish sixth.

It means a three-way tussle between Marczyk, Mabellini and Armstrong will decide the outcome of the ERC title race in Croatia next month. Marcyzk heads Mabellini by two points on dropped scores, with Armstrong 20 points adrift. A maximum of 35 points are up for grabs.

The ERC title race took a twist before the start of the penultimate round when members of Mabellini’s team – without his knowledge – were identified as being on stages 10 and 12 of JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion at a time when rules state they should not have been, resulting in a time penalty.

Mabellini’s rival Marczyk kicked off the rally by taking the early lead after winning Friday night’s super special on the streets of Aberystwyth. However, Marczyk’s lead didn’t last long as Armstrong overhauled the Michelin-shod Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in SS2, to lead by 0.3sec.

Armstrong was fortunate not to lose too much time to a spin and minor contact with a gate in the tricky SS3, Y Diafol 1, which translates from Welsh to English as The Devil.

A thrilling victory battle unfolded as the Pirelli-equipped Armstrong came under pressure from FIA Rally Star driver Jürgenson, who shone across Saturday morning’s stages. Jürgenson, boosted by a maiden ERC stage win on SS3, headed to midday service only 0.2sec behind Armstrong as the M-Sport duo pulled clear of the field.

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed Armstrong showed his class on Saturday afternoon, setting the fastest time in the second pass through Y Diafol to edge away from Jürgenson. The lead stood at 7.3sec heading into Sunday’s final four stages.

A bold gamble not to take wet tyres on Sunday morning paid off for Armstrong, who won SS9 and SS10 under threatening skies. Heavy rain arrived for SS11, Nant y Moch, where Armstrong delivered a stunning drive that was 14.5sec faster than anyone else, before sealing the win on the Power Stage.

Jürgenson’s eye-catching Rali Ceredigion debut – his first appearance in the ERC at Rally2 level – ended with a deserved second.

“The feeling is really positive I must say. Coming here I must say I wasn’t sure I could fight with the top three guys but we proved ourselves wrong,” said Jürgenson.

Marczyk picked up valuable championship points in third but finished behind Mabellini on the Power Stage as the Italian bagged the maximum five points on offer.

“Normally I would say that to have scored a fourth podium out of seven races [is good], but we have a really tight fight for the championship and I was hoping for something better in the Power Stage, My focus is now on Croatia,” said Marczyk.

Title rival Mabellini produced a head turning fightback across Saturday to sit sixth, a position which he converted into points on Sunday.

“I think this is one of the worst experiences we have had, but we showed to everybody that we are really fast and can keep the concentration if these kind of things happen. The fight will be on for Croatia, I’m sure of it,” said Mabellini.

Probite British Rally Championship leader William Creighton was the quickest of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 contingent to finish fourth ahead of two-time Rali Ceredigion winner Osain Pryce.

British driver Callum Black claimed seventh ahead of ERC3 winner Eamonn Kelly. Welshman Ioan Lloyd claimed his first ERC4 win by finishing ninth overall, while Meirion Evans completed the top 10 after recovering from a high-speed crash in SS3. Martin Vlček claimed the Master ERC class.

Max McRae’s rally came unstuck on SS3 when he understeered off the road and got stuck in a ditch. Spectators did however eventually help McRae recover, although he retired on the second pass through the stage due to suspension damage caused by hitting a bank. McRae rejoined the rally on Sunday to complete the final four stages.

Callum Devine dropped out of fifth position when a fire ignited in the engine bay of his MRF-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 at the end of SS4. He was able to restart on Sunday following repairs only for a second engine fire to end his rally on Sunday. Philip Allen and Jakub Matulka ran as high as fifth and sixth before crashing out in separate incidents on SS6, albeit without injury to either crew.

Croatia Rally hosts the ERC title decider from 3 - 5 October.