PRESS RELEASE
Armstrong and Byrne head to Encarnacion for WRC round eleven as Rally del Paraguay’s red-earth stages open a South American double-header
Encarnacion, Paraguay – 27 August 2026 Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne venture into new territory this week as they tackle Rally del Paraguay, round eleven of the FIA World Rally Championship and the first event of a South American double-header.
The M-Sport Ford duo travel south following the summer break and their maiden gravel rally victory at the Grampian Rally, where Armstrong’s consistency across seven stage wins secured a commanding win in the Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Further updates throughout the weekend will be published at jonarmstrongrally.com.
Rally del Paraguay made its WRC debut in 2025, its unique red-earth stages presenting a challenge unlike anything else on the world series calendar. Soft roads on the first pass of each stage become rutted for the second, making conditions unpredictable, while changing weather and the constant risk of punctures add another layer of complexity to a high-mileage event.
Crews tackle shakedown on Thursday before competitive action gets under way on Friday morning. Friday’s itinerary includes the longest stage of the rally, the 30-kilometre Yerbateras test, with five stages wrapping up the relentless action on Sunday across a total of 358 competitive kilometres.
For Armstrong, Rally del Paraguay marks his maiden appearance in South America and his first competitive outing on the continent. The Fermanagh native will be navigating entirely new terrain and conditions as he looks to apply the lessons learned throughout his maiden WRC season to an unfamiliar challenge.
Speaking ahead of his South American debut, Armstrong outlined his approach to Rally del Paraguay’s unique conditions, his expectations for the weekend, and his excitement at experiencing a new continent and rallying culture.
Quote – Jon Armstrong
“Rally Paraguay is a new rally for us, and I haven’t managed to do all the research yet,” said Armstrong before his transatlantic journey. “From what we have seen it looks quite different to anything we have done before. The only comparison I can maybe make is Kenya, although I still think it’s going to be quite different.
“In terms of the flow of the roads, there seem to be some similarities, with long straights and plenty of bumps. The surface looks quite muddy and polished when it’s dry, and if we get wet conditions I think it could become very slippery. So it’s definitely going to be a different challenge.
“We will try to do as much research as we can beforehand and aim for a clean rally, particularly on Friday. That has been our approach recently – trying to have a clean Friday and put ourselves in a good position for the rest of the weekend.
“I don’t know how much road cleaning there will be on these stages, given the nature of the compact, muddy red soil, but we’ll try to make the most of whatever conditions we get. The main thing is to avoid trouble as much as possible and put everything together. I don’t know what our pace will be like, but if we can put together a good, clean weekend, hopefully the result will follow.
“It’s also going to be a big experience for me because it’s my first rally in South America. I’ve never rallied in North or South America before, so it’s going to be a big change in terms of the culture and the whole experience.
“I think Chile could be a good opportunity for us, particularly with the road cleaning and the nature of the roads, which may be a little more familiar to me. But Paraguay is going to be a very different challenge to anything I’ve experienced before.
“I’m also really looking forward to the atmosphere. From what I’ve seen, the fans in Paraguay are incredibly passionate, and the opening ceremony looks spectacular. It’s clear that people really enjoy rallying there, so we’ll try to take it all in, gain as much experience as possible and hopefully put together a solid result.”
Notes to Editors
- Event: Rally del Paraguay (Round 11 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship)
- Location: Encarnacion, Paraguay
- Stages: Friday to Sunday itinerary featuring the 30-kilometre Yerbateras test, the rally’s longest stage, with five stages on Sunday
- Distance: 358 competitive kilometres
- Surface: Red-earth gravel – soft on the first pass and heavily rutted on the second, with a high puncture risk and conditions that change quickly in wet weather
- Schedule: Shakedown Thursday 27 August; competitive stages Friday 28 August to Sunday 30 August
- Driver / Co-driver: Jon Armstrong / Shane Byrne
- Car: Ford Puma Rally1
- Team: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
- Academy: Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy
- Context: Armstrong’s first competitive event in South America and the opening half of a South American double-header, following his maiden gravel rally win at the Grampian Rally over the summer break
Links for editors
- Official website (home): jonarmstrongrally.com
- Press hub: jonarmstrongrally.com/press
