behind the wheel

About Jon Armstrong

The rising star in international rallying

Driving Success on Europe’s
Toughest Stages

Early Life & Background

Jon grew up surrounded by motorsport. His father worked as a local rally mechanic, and Jon and his brother often spent weekends at events, sparking a fascination that quickly grew into ambition. By the time he entered his first rally in 2008 at just 13, Jon was already immersed in the world of rally cars, pacenotes and gravel stages.

Alongside real-world events, he honed his craft through rally games and simulators, developing a feel for pace and car control that would later serve him well on the stages.

Rally Career Highlights

Rallying is at the core of Jon’s story. Over the years, he has steadily progressed through the sport’s classes, from early two-wheel-drive championships to Rally2 machinery at European level.

Key milestones include:
– ERC3 Champion (2023): proved his consistency across diverse European terrains.
– Junior WRC runner-up (2021 & 2022): six podiums and over 50 stage wins.
– ERC Rally2 campaign with M-Sport Ford (2024): podium finishes and 5th overall in the championship.
– First ERC victory at Rali Ceredigion (2025): a career-defining moment. Jon and co-driver Shane Byrne delivered a flawless drive on home soil, outpacing established rivals and sealing an emotional breakthrough win.
– Second ERC victory at Rally Croatia (2025): building on earlier ERC success, Jon and Shane read the conditions perfectly, made smart tyre calls, and controlled the key stages to secure another major result in their European campaign.

These 2025 victories not only confirmed Jon’s ability to win at the top level of European rally but also set the stage for an ambitious push toward future ERC titles in 2026 and beyond.

View jon’s timeline

jon armstrong white fiesta rome coliseum erc 2024 (1)

jon armstron sim racing wrc champion 2018

Sim Racing Champion

The Role of Sim Racing
While rallying remains Jon’s primary focus, sim racing has played an essential supporting role in his journey. He is a former WRC Esports World Champion and has worked with Codemasters/EA to bring authentic rally handling to the DiRT and WRC game series. Today, he views simulators as valuable tools for training and coaching, rather than the core of his story, for now.

Vision & Current Direction

Jon’s mission is twofold: to continue competing and winning at the highest levels of European rally, and to use Next Tenth to mentor the next generation of drivers. His blend of competitive experience, technical knowledge, and approachable coaching style makes him both a rising star on the stages and a trusted guide for aspiring rally drivers.

jon armstrong & m sport team rali ceredigion

jon armstrong rally driver winner of rali ceredigion 2025

Evolution:
Next Tenth – Rally Coaching

Alongside his own competition programme, Jon has launched Next Tenth, a rally coaching initiative designed to help drivers at all levels find extra performance.
Through Next Tenth, Jon offers:
– In-car coaching and pace-note development
– Stage reviews and data analysis
– Mental preparation and rallycraft workshops
– Guidance rooted in his ongoing ERC experience
The name reflects Jon’s philosophy:
“In rallying, the difference between winning and losing comes down to finding
the next tenth of a second“

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