PRESS RELEASE
Armstrong and Byrne head to Aichi for WRC round seven as the season’s final Rally1 event brings a demanding, low-grip tarmac test
Aichi, Japan – 28 May 2026 Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne travel to the Far East this week as they tackle the FIA World Rally Championship’s seventh round, Rally Japan.
The M-Sport Ford duo head to Asia after showing strong pace on recent events and will be aiming for a clean, drama-free weekend in Japan to convert that speed into WRC points.
Armstrong’s third-fastest time on Rally Portugal’s Paredes stage underlined his potential on rough gravel roads, but his focus now returns to asphalt conditions. Rally Japan also marks the final WRC event for the current generation of Rally1 cars – a milestone Armstrong feels privileged to be part of.
Further updates throughout the weekend will be published at jonarmstrongrally.com.
Based in the Aichi prefecture, crews will tackle 20 stages covering 302 competitive kilometres across Japan’s technical asphalt roads. The rally begins with shakedown on Thursday morning before competitive action starts on Friday.
The stages are known for tight, twisty tarmac with a flowing rhythm, though grip levels can vary with debris such as leaves and pine needles often pulled onto the road surface. This year’s event also takes place in late spring rather than autumn, adding uncertainty over conditions. Warmer temperatures, higher humidity and more vegetation are expected, though rain remains a possibility.
It will be Armstrong and Byrne’s first time competing on the event, but the Fermanagh native has some experience after serving as part of a route note crew for the past two years.
Quote – Jon Armstrong
“I’ve done the route note crew in Japan for the last two years, so that experience is definitely valuable going into the event,” said Armstrong. “The stages are very technical – mostly twisty tarmac roads with quite a flowing rhythm in places.
“The grip levels generally aren’t too bad, but you can still expect some pollution on the road. In previous years, there has been quite a bit of debris in the forests, things like leaves and pine needles, which can make conditions tricky.
“This year, the rally is taking place around five months earlier than usual, so we’re not entirely sure what the conditions will be like. There could be more vegetation on the stages, slightly warmer temperatures and more humidity, although rain is still possible as well.
“Overall, it’s a difficult event, but probably a little more on the slippery side of tarmac, which I think should suit me better than somewhere like the Canary Islands.
“I’m really looking forward to competing in Japan itself. It’s only the second long-haul event I’ve done, and I really enjoy the culture there. The fans are incredibly enthusiastic, and it’s just a brilliant place to go rallying.
“I think Japan is a fantastic event for the sport as well, bringing rallying to such passionate supporters. From a personal side, it’s also going to be special because it’s the final Rally1 tarmac event for this generation of cars, so that gives it a bit of extra meaning.
“The main thing is to see where our pace is at and try to have a clean event. Because the roads are a bit dirtier and lower-grip, hopefully it will suit our style a little more – maybe somewhere between Croatia and the Canary Islands in terms of characteristics.
“The stages are probably more technical and corner-to-corner than Croatia, but still not quite as circuit-style as the Canaries. If the weather conditions become difficult, that can make things even more demanding, so it’s important to stay clean and consistent.
“Ultimately, the focus is just on doing our own job well, building confidence, and trying to put together a strong rally from start to finish.”
Notes to Editors
- Event: Rally Japan (Round 7 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship)
- Location: Aichi prefecture, Japan
- Stages: 20 stages
- Distance: 302 competitive kilometres
- Surface: Asphalt (technical, twisty, variable grip with road debris)
- Schedule: Shakedown Thursday; competitive action Friday to Sunday
- Driver / Co-driver: Jon Armstrong / Shane Byrne
- Car: Ford Puma Rally1
- Team: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
- Academy: Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy
- Context: Final WRC event for the current generation of Rally1 cars; Armstrong has previous Japan experience via route note crew work
Links for editors
- Official website (home): jonarmstrongrally.com
- Press hub: jonarmstrongrally.com/press
