What a day. What a rally.
Today we crossed the finish line as winners of Rali Ceredigion and it feels incredible to say that out loud. To win my first ever ERC round is something I will carry with me for the rest of my career.
The conditions this morning were wet and greasy which meant every stage was a test of discipline. With a seven second lead overnight I knew the priority was to keep it clean and hold my rhythm. Romet was right there in my mirrors all day and that made it easier in some ways but more intense in others. I could not relax at any point.
As I said at the stop line, “It was quite stressful at times. We knew the conditions would be tricky so it was about keeping the car in the middle of the road and not over-driving. To come out the other side and win is just an unbelievable feeling.”
On the first loop I focused on staying tidy and avoiding silly mistakes. The Fiesta felt good and Shane was spot on with the notes which gave me the confidence to push when I needed to. We lost a bit of time in places but nothing that threatened the lead. Each time we came into service the boys kept everything perfect which made all the difference.
The final stages were some of the most stressful I have driven in a long time. Every corner felt like it carried the weight of the whole weekend. But when we came through the last control and realised we had done enough it was just pure relief and joy.
Afterwards I said, “Of course, Wales is as close as we get to a home rally, so it was definitely the one we wanted to put the biggest effort in and really go for.” It makes this result even more special.
Standing on the podium with Shane and lifting the trophy was a proud moment. We put everything into this rally and to see it pay off is hugely rewarding. I also said, “It is a huge milestone for me to win at this level. We have been working hard for this and I am so grateful to the team and everyone who has supported us.”
This win is for the fans who lined the promenade on Friday, for those who braved the moorland roads on Saturday, and for everyone who stood in the rain today. You gave us the energy to dig deep when it mattered.
Rali Ceredigion 2025 will always be a special one for me. Tonight we celebrate but very soon the focus will turn to the next challenge. For now though it feels amazing to say we are ERC winners.
— Jon
