PRESS RELEASE
Armstrong and Byrne head to Porto for WRC round six as the season moves back onto Portugal’s gruelling gravel roads
Porto, Portugal – 5 May 2026 Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne return to gravel this week as they tackle Rally Portugal, the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
The M-Sport Ford duo head to Porto following a challenging Canary Islands Rally, where they fought back from multiple moments and technical issues to finish 11th overall, agonisingly missing out on championship points by just 2.8 seconds.
Further updates throughout the weekend will be published at jonarmstrongrally.com.
Rally Portugal marks Armstrong’s first start on a European gravel event in his Rally1 campaign. The WRC field will tackle 23 stages covering 344 competitive kilometres across Portugal’s notoriously demanding gravel roads.
While Armstrong will be keen to show his pace on one of WRC’s most popular events, the focus will also be on surviving the brutal conditions. Friday in particular could prove decisive, with only one remote mid-day service increasing the importance of set-up choices, tyre management and mechanical reliability.
For Armstrong, Rally Portugal brings mixed memories – strong stage times paired with punctures and mechanical issues that ultimately denied results. The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver has competed on the event three times before, dating back to 2016. He led Junior WRC’s 2021 edition on the opening day before a puncture ended his challenge, while in 2022 he recovered from an early mechanical issue to claim stage win points.
Quote – Jon Armstrong
“Portugal was actually my second WRC rally and my first gravel event at that level, back in 2016 – that’s nearly ten years ago now,” said Armstrong. “I have good memories from that, just experiencing the stages and the atmosphere for the first time.
“More recently, in 2021 and 2022, we showed some strong pace. In 2021 we were leading the rally on the first day before a puncture, and then in 2022 we had a mechanical issue early on but still managed to come back and pick up stage win points. So it hasn’t always been the most straightforward event for us, but it’s definitely one of the classics and one I always look forward to.
“There is probably not a huge amount you can take directly from our last gravel appearance on the Safari because it’s such a unique event, but depending on the weather this weekend, there could be some similarities – especially if it turns wet and slippery in places.
“The set-up will be quite different, with lower ride height and more of a European gravel style, so it’s not an easy comparison. But at least we’ve had one gravel rally already this season, and now this will be our first proper European gravel event, so it’s a good reference point moving forward.
“The main aim is to have a clean rally and stay out of trouble. We will have to see what the weather does, because that could play a big role.
“If it is dry on Thursday and Friday, road position could work in our favour, but if it turns wet, that advantage might disappear. So it is about adapting to the conditions and making the most of whatever we get.
“Ultimately, we want to push and see where our pace is, but at the same time we know how important it is to get a solid, clean run and build from there.”
Notes to Editors
- Event: Rally Portugal (Round 6 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship)
- Location: Porto, Portugal
- Stages: 23 stages
- Distance: 344 competitive kilometres
- Surface: Gravel (European gravel style)
- Driver / Co-driver: Jon Armstrong / Shane Byrne
- Car: Ford Puma Rally1
- Team: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
- Academy: Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy
- Background: Previous Rally Portugal starts in 2016, 2021 and 2022; led Junior WRC on day one in 2021 before a puncture; recovered to claim stage win points in 2022
Links for editors
- Official website (home): jonarmstrongrally.com
- Press hub: jonarmstrongrally.com/press
