PRESS RELEASE
Armstrong takes maiden WRC stage win at Acropolis Rally Greece before a turbo issue and punctures end a podium-challenging Friday
Athens, Greece – 29 June 2026 Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne claimed a maiden FIA World Rally Championship stage win at Acropolis Rally Greece, round eight of the season, before a turbo issue and punctures forced a Friday retirement from a podium-challenging position aboard their Ford Puma Rally1.
The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy duo made a remarkable start on Friday morning, trading top-three stage times with the WRC’s frontrunners. A third-fastest time on the 22.2-kilometre Parnassos Mt stage was followed by second-fastest on the 24.2-kilometre Stiri test, launching Armstrong into third overall before the remote service.
The breakthrough moment came on stage five, the 17.8-kilometre Mt Elikon test, where Armstrong delivered an awesome drive to secure his maiden WRC stage win and consolidate his place on the podium. Less than 19 seconds separated him from the then rally leader Thierry Neuville.
The brutal Greek conditions intervened shortly after. Two punctures followed by a turbo issue ultimately forced Armstrong and Byrne to retire their Ford Puma Rally1 at the end of Friday, ending what had been an exceptional day behind the wheel for the 31-year-old. M-Sport’s overnight repairs ensured the crew completed the rally’s remaining stages on Saturday and Sunday, sampling what it is like to run first on the road in rocky conditions.
Quote – Jon Armstrong
“It was great to get my first WRC stage win. That’s a nice achievement to tick off the list, so I’m really pleased with that,” said Armstrong.
“Looking back on the event as a whole, though, it’s hard not to think about what might have been. We showed really strong pace on Friday and were sitting third overall when we suffered the turbo issue. That was obviously frustrating because we felt we were in a really good position.
“The rest of the weekend was more difficult because we were opening the road, but even then it was valuable experience. It gave us a much better understanding of what it’s like to run first on the road, and that’s knowledge we’ll be able to use in the future.
“Even while sweeping the stages, we still managed to set some competitive times against the drivers around us, so there are plenty of positives to take away. We showed we have the pace, and that’s encouraging.
“As for our stage win, I had actually driven parts of the stage back in 2022 in Junior WRC, so I had a little bit of familiarity with it, which definitely helped.
“We’d already built up a good rhythm before that stage because our times had been improving, so confidence was growing. The main thing was just staying calm and enjoying the driving.
“We’re making small steps all the time in understanding the car, the championship and the level of competition. It was nice to see everything come together and finally get that first stage win.
“Once we rejoined under super rally regulations, the approach naturally changed. You know you’re not going to be able to fight for the same overall result anymore, and that’s always difficult when you’ve been running near the front.
“At the same time, it gave us a good opportunity to understand how much effect road cleaning has on the stage times and where our pace compares when we’re opening the road. There is still plenty of work to do, but it was another useful learning experience.
“Now we’re looking forward to the fast gravel rallies coming up. They’re going to be a different challenge altogether, with big jumps, high speeds and really using the aero to its maximum.
“The main thing for the rest of the season is to keep enjoying the driving. If you’re enjoying yourself and feeling comfortable in the car, the stage times usually follow, so that’s the approach we’ll continue to take.”
Notes to Editors
- Event: Acropolis Rally Greece (Round 8 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship)
- Location: Athens / Lamia, Greece
- Stages: 17 stages (ceremonial start and super special in Athens, plus 16 further stages)
- Distance: 323 competitive kilometres
- Surface: Gravel – hot, dusty and rocky, with numerous single-pass stages, particularly on Friday
- Schedule: Shakedown Thursday 25 June; competitive stages Friday to Sunday, finishing Sunday 28 June
- Result: Maiden WRC stage win (Mt Elikon, SS5); ran as high as third overall on Friday before two punctures and a turbo issue forced a Friday retirement; restarted under super rally regulations to complete Saturday and 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: First WRC stage win of Armstrong’s maiden Rally1 season, at the opening round of the gravel-heavy second half of the campaign
Links for editors
- Official website (home): jonarmstrongrally.com
- Press hub: jonarmstrongrally.com/press
