\n<\/p>\n
Jon Armstrong sits in fifth place after three stages of his World Rally Championship debut at the iconic Rallye Monte Carlo.<\/b><\/p>\n
The M-Sport Ford driver was sixth on the opening stage and was third fastest on the ice-covered second stage to move into third place overall.<\/p>\n
Safety concerns amid heavy fog forced the third stage to be halted and Armstrong, who was midway through the stage when it was stopped, was awarded a notional time – which is given by rally officials for drivers who do not complete a stage under exceptional circumstances.<\/p>\n
A slower nominal time than expected dropped him from the podium to fifth overall but it was still a superb first day in rallying’s top tier for the Northern Ireland driver.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old is one minute and 34.5 seconds behind rally leader Oliver Solberg, who set a stunning time in the second stage to overhaul Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans, after the Wales driver was fastest on Thursday’s opener.<\/p>\n
Evans was one of a number of drivers who complained about poor visibility before the stage was stopped.<\/p>\n
“I couldn’t see anything, so it was probably the right decision [to stop the stage],” said Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Armstrong.<\/p>\n
“It’s a good start for the first day in Rally1 and the first day of Monte-Carlo and I know I can drive, but it’s mostly the things around it that make me nervous.”<\/p>\n
Reigning champion Sebastien Ogier is third after topping the final stage before it was stopped.<\/p>\n
Motorsport Ireland’s Josh McErlean had an early crash as he spun off the icy road on the second stage, clipped a tree and got stuck in a ditch, while Finland’s Sami Pajari suffered a similar fate with a broken wheel on his Toyota.<\/p>\n
McErlean will return to the rally after his accident.<\/p>\n
The rally resumes with six stages on Friday, and the event ends with four stages each on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
Rallye Monte Carlo Standings (After stage 3\/17)<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Oliver Solberg SWE (Toyota) Leader<\/p>\n
2. Elfyn Evans GB (Toyota) +44.7 seconds<\/p>\n
3. Sebastien Ogier FRA (Toyota) +1m 8.6s<\/p>\n
4. Thierry Neuville BEL (Hyundai) +1m25.9s<\/p>\n
5. Jon Armstrong IRL (Ford) +1m34.5s <\/p>\n
RET Josh McErlean IRL (Ford)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n