PRESS RELEASE
Armstrong impresses on Rally Monte-Carlo Rally1 debut
Strong stage times and top-six running mark encouraging start to maiden WRC campaign before late retirement
Monaco Harbour – 18 January 2026
Embarking on their maiden FIA World Rally Championship campaign, Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne delivered an encouraging Rally1 debut on Rally Monte-Carlo 2026, showing flashes of brilliance in some of the event’s most treacherous conditions before an unfortunate retirement on the rally’s penultimate stage.
The Fermanagh driver wasted no time in demonstrating his credentials at rallying’s highest level. On a slippery, snow- and ice-covered second stage, Armstrong set the third-fastest time, immediately proving his natural speed could translate to the top tier. Thick fog and nominal times cost the M-Sport Ford crew time on stage three, but they still held a top-five position at the end of Thursday night.
Despite a string of punctures on stages seven, eight and ten, Armstrong held onto sixth overall and was the leading Ford contender. Sunday then began with even more promise, as the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy duo set another top-five Rally1 time on stage 15 while targeting a strong points finish on their debut.
Unfortunately, their eye-catching performance came to a premature end on the rally’s penultimate stage. Wearing a cross-pattern set of tyres, their Ford Puma Rally1 understeered into a rock on a slushy right-hander, and despite their best efforts, Armstrong and Byrne were unable to repair the car to complete the rally.
Quote – Jon Armstrong
“I would say it was completely different to anything I’ve done before,” said Armstrong. “It was incredibly tricky to read the conditions, with all the different types of snow, slush and ice all appearing on the same stage. The tyres react very differently to each of those surfaces, so how you approach them changes all the time – braking earlier, how you pitch the car in, and just adapting your driving style constantly.
“What really stood out was how different a stage could look between recce and the actual run. You might see it dry on recce and then arrive in the rally to find it completely covered in snow. But it was an amazing experience, with such a great atmosphere and so much happening all at once. Starting down in Monaco and then working your way up into the mountains, the snow coming in, and having to make those tyre choices, it was totally unique for both myself and Shane, and something we really enjoyed.
“The Rally1 car is a big step in terms of usability in those conditions. On the really icy and snowy sections, especially tight hairpins, you can barely touch the throttle at times – it’s all about balance and keeping the car moving smoothly. You’re almost just trying to keep the car dancing and flowing rather than attacking. Then, as soon as you hit a drier section, it’s almost flat-out. You really feel the mechanical grip and the power, which is incredible.
“Overall, the feeling with the car was good. We tried a lot of different things over the weekend, which gave us valuable knowledge. There’s always more to learn, but we definitely found a good rhythm at times. The first night in the snow was a real highlight – we set a good stage time, and that gave us confidence.
“After that, the goal was to be cleaner and smarter, focusing on gaining as much experience as possible. We were doing that and were holding sixth, but unfortunately, we got caught out on the penultimate stage on cross-pattern tyres. When we hit some slush, the tyre couldn’t clear the water quickly enough, and we understeered into a rock, which damaged the car and forced us to retire. It was frustrating not to finish after all the effort from the team and everyone involved to get us there.
“There are a lot of positives to take from the weekend. It feels tough right now, but we experienced the full Monte-Carlo challenge in a Rally1 car, and that’s something not many people get to do. I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity and for everything we’ve learned from it.
“Now we move on to snow and then gravel, with a softer set-up so the car will be moving around more. That’s something I’m really looking forward to.”
Quote – Rich Millener, M-Sport Team Principal
“…there were still many positives to take away – chief among them, the outstanding WRC debut of Jon and Shane,” said Millener. “Sitting as high as third overall and consistently matching, and even beating, established Rally1 competitors, they have really announced their arrival at this level, and I’m excited to see what the rest of the season brings.”
Armstrong and Byrne now turn their attention to February’s Rally Sweden, where WRC’s fastest cars and crews tackle high-speed snow stages. While the WRC rookies narrowly missed out on a points-scoring finish in Monaco, they can look back on a weekend full of strong moments and valuable learning. Armstrong heads to Sweden with confidence, having recorded Junior WRC success on the event three years ago.
Notes to Editors
- Event: Rally Monte-Carlo (Round 1 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship)
- Driver / Co-driver: Jon Armstrong / Shane Byrne
- Car: Ford Puma Rally1
- Team: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
- Programme: Full 2026 WRC season (14 rounds)
- Highlights: Third-fastest time on stage two; top-five position after Thursday night; running sixth overall and leading Ford contender despite punctures; top-five Rally1 time on stage 15
- Outcome: Retirement on penultimate stage after impact with a rock in slushy conditions on cross-pattern tyres
- Next event: Rally Sweden (February 2026)
About Jon Armstrong
Jon Armstrong is an Irish rally driver and Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy representative competing in the FIA World Rally Championship. In 2026, he steps up to Rally1 for his first full WRC campaign with M-Sport, driving the Ford Puma Rally1 alongside co-driver Shane Byrne.
ENDS