The 2025 JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion got underway on Friday evening after a spectacular showpiece stage, wrapping its way through the streets of the seaside town of Aberystwyth.

Spectators were out in full force, and were treated to high-speed action from the very best drivers in the FIA European Championship, Probite British Rally Championship as well as top talent from the national rallying scene.

Fastest on the super special stage in the heart of the town was the Italian crew of Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi in their Skoda Fabia Rally2. Taming the stage in 1m13.7 seconds – they were quickest by 1.3s from title rivals Miko Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk.

However Marczyk leads the rally overnight from Jakub Matulka by 1.2s overnight with top BRC runners Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne who are dovetailing a one off BRC drive with regular ERC commitments in their M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 third. The top four made it through before rain fell on the crews behind – reducing the chance of the top quartet being challenged.

Local hopes will be carried by Osian Pryce with Andy Hayes calling the notes. Pryce, from Machynlleth, nestled himself in fifth ahead of day two, while Lampeter ace Meirion Evans and co-driver Dale Furniss slotted their Toyota Yaris Rally2 into eighth.

Taking the advantage on the National rally was Sam Touzel and Max Freeman who went quickest by 2.2 seconds over Dylan Davies and Mark Glennerster.

The tit-for-tat battle between Chris Richmond-Hand and Izzie Holman’s Toyota Starlet with Rob Cotton in his Subaru Impreza in the national class will get underway on Saturday.

“We’ve got a lot of learning to do,” commented Cotton on Friday afternoon, “this Rally is a very long event so we need to not go out too hard, too soon, and be clean and be fast.”

Mabellini was also fastest through the Qualifying session this morning and will have the honour and benefit of running first on the road tomorrow ahead Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne with M-Sport teammates Romet Jürgenson and Siim Oja heading off in third.

Crews now head to the Ceredigion lanes for ‘Super Saturday’. Seven tough and challenging stages – this is the day that will dictate the classification, with two passes through the demanding Cwm Elan, Y Diafol and Mydroilyn tests before another blast through the streets of Aberystwyth to round out the middle day of the event.