The Northern Irishman has demonstrated significant improvement on each of his ERC appearances this season, with a second fastest stage time on JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion earlier this month proof of his progression.
After finishing the Welsh Tarmac round, the first ERC event to take place in the United Kingdom since 2016, in 23rd among the ERC crews following a time-consuming off on SS12, Allen said: “Some of the splits are quite good and where I want them to be, I’m just struggling to keep it all together and there are a few bits I’m not so good at. This was my first rally on Tarmac with the [Skoda Fabia RS Rally2], my first rally with Craig [Drew] and I can’t complain. The result was not what I wanted of course but I learned a lot and it was also my first time on the Michelins.”
The 32-year-old, whose late father Glenn Allen was a championship-winning rally driver, continued: “I’ve only done maybe 10 Tarmac rallies. I started a long time ago but I always did one or two rallies a year, never really sticking at it. This year I was meant to be doing a lot of rallying but I didn’t get to do Rome and Zlín and this rally was completely different to Canarias. With a bit more homework and a bit more experience it should turn out okay, hopefully I should be at the better end.”
Of his rapid run through SS5, which he completed 4.8sec down on stage winner and defending ERC champion Hayden Paddon, Allen said: “It was good and there were a few other stages when the splits were good. I’m never going to string a rally together with my experience, it’s just trying to show signs that if we can get it together we won’t be miles away.
“Next year hopefully I will be a different person when I come back, let’s see. The plan this year was to try to learn the rallies and go again next year with a different attitude and a bit more experience. Obviously European pace is serious, as it shows, with the top four here all European championship guys. But let’s see where it goes.”
Before switching his focus to the 2025 ERC season, Allen is contemplating contesting Rally Silesia decider in Poland from 11 - 13 October.
Japan
Poland
Turkey