The final day of Rally Croatia brought more twists to an already unpredictable weekend. With Veliko -Trgovišće and Zagorska Sela – Kumrovec stages each run twice under heavy rain, the slippery conditions made the last leg of the season a real challenge for every crew.
The day started with action right away. Mads Østberg moved ahead of Robert Virves after the opening stage, as the Estonian struggled in the tricky conditions. Championship leader Miko Marczyk, who began the day in sixth place, climbed quickly up the leaderboard. He gained two positions when Johansson went off the road and Maior received a 10-second penalty for arriving late at time control.
The drama continued when Virves went off the road in the next stage, losing around two minutes and dropping out of podium contention. That mistake allowed Marczyk to move into third place overall.
As the rain eased, the final Power Stage decided the bonus points. Jon Armstrong flew through to take the maximum 5 Power Stage points, followed by Østberg, Jürgenson, Tempestini, and Virves.
Final Overall Results
🥇 Jon Armstrong & Shane Byrne – 1:50:57.4
🥈 Mads Østberg & Lorcan Moore – +45.7
🥉 Miko Marczyk & Szymon Gospodarczyk – +1:46.1
Armstrong’s win, combined with full points (30 + 5 from the Power Stage), was not quite enough to take the ERC title. However, his strong finish did move him ahead of Andrea Mabellini in the final standings to claim second place overall.
In the end, it was Miko Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk who celebrated as the 2025 European Rally Champions, a well-deserved reward for a consistent season.
With the 2025 ERC season now complete, fans are eagerly waiting for the 2026 calendar, which has yet to be announced. For now, congratulations to all the competitors for an incredible season filled with speed, skill, and unforgettable moments!
Overall Championship Standings after Croatia (rd. 8)
