PRESS RELEASE

Armstrong and Byrne return to Croatia buoyed by early-season pace, ready for first regular asphalt outing in the Ford Puma Rally1

Rijeka, Croatia – 9th April 2026

Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne return to the Croatia Rally this week, a venue where the M-Sport Ford duo have tasted victory before.

The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew head to round four of the FIA World Rally Championship buoyed by flashes of genuine pace across the opening three events. Armstrong secured his first WRC points on Rally Sweden and has consistently demonstrated he can challenge established Rally1 competitors.

Further updates throughout the weekend will be published at jonarmstrongrally.com.

Croatia holds special significance for Armstrong. The Fermanagh native took his first Junior WRC victory there in 2021 before returning last year to claim overall victory as part of the European Rally Championship.

However, this year’s edition presents a fresh challenge. The rally has moved from its traditional base to the coastal area of Rijeka, meaning the stages will have different characteristics to previous years. Crews will tackle 300 stage kilometres across 20 stages, starting with shakedown on Thursday morning before concluding with the 14.6-kilometre Alan – Senj Power Stage on Sunday afternoon.

The sealed surface marks Armstrong’s first regular asphalt rally in the Ford Puma Rally1, adding another layer of learning to his maiden WRC campaign. Despite the new location and car, a successful pre-event test in Croatia last week has left Armstrong feeling confident ahead of the rally. He also chipped in to help his M-Sport engineers during his team-mate Josh McErlean’s pre-event test.

Quote – Jon Armstrong

“We had a good test session in Croatia last week,” said Armstrong. “I really enjoyed it. The Puma felt strong on those bumpy, dirty-style tarmac roads that Croatia is known for, so that gave me a good feeling heading into the rally.

“I was doing a bit of mechanical work as well. Nothing too major, but I was helping with things like removing dampers, changing springs, and working on the suspension – just trying to learn more about the car.

“My best memories of Croatia go back to 2021 when I took my first Junior WRC victory. That was really special. Then, to return last year in the ERC and take the overall win was a huge moment as well.

“To have two wins at the same rally at different levels makes it a very special place for me. It has also been one of my strongest events performance-wise, so I’m really looking forward to going back.

“That said, this year will be a bit different with the rally moving closer to the coast, and it has quite a few new stages. It is going to feel like a new challenge in many ways.

“Rally1 on tarmac is really impressive. There is quite a bit of tyre management involved. That is something I’ll need to adapt to, as my natural style, especially on bumpy and dirty tarmac like in Ireland or previous Croatia events, is to really lean on the tyre and push hard. I need to learn to be smoother and not overload the tyre.

“At the same time, the aero plays a big role on tarmac, especially on the faster sections, so it’s about finding that balance. Overall, the car feels great on asphalt, and I’m looking forward to exploring that more.

“The main aim is to show good pace where we can and build on what we have learned so far. If we can stay out of trouble and have a clean rally, then hopefully a strong overall result will follow.

“It is always about showing the potential – both from our side and from the car. Given that Croatia has been one of my stronger rallies in the past, there’s definitely extra motivation to deliver a good performance.”

Notes to Editors

Event: Croatia Rally (Round 4 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship)

Base: Rijeka, Croatia (new event base for 2026)

Schedule: Shakedown Thursday; rally runs Friday to Sunday

Stages: 20 stages

Distance: Approximately 300 stage kilometres

Power Stage: Alan – Senj (14.6 km), Sunday afternoon

Driver / Co-driver: Jon Armstrong / Shane Byrne

Car: Ford Puma Rally1

Team: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team

Academy: Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy

Background: Junior WRC victory in Croatia (2021); overall Croatia victory in ERC (2025)

Links for editors

Official website (home): jonarmstrongrally.com

Press hub: jonarmstrongrally.com/press

Live updates: https://www.wrc.com/en/events/wrc-croatia-rally-2026/wrc-croatia-rally-results-2026