After a strong 2023 season, Jon Armstrong embarks on his career’s next chapter, stepping up into an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 for the 2024 European Rally Championship. The new partnership recognises Armstrong’s achievements across WRC and ERC feeder categories, whilst representing M-Sport’s long-standing tradition to present new opportunities to up-and-coming talent.
Not unfamiliar to an M-Sport-built Fiesta, Armstrong has been driving Fiesta Rally4 and Rally3 machinery since 2021. Just missing out on a title win in his debut Junior WRC season, he claimed two wins across four events in the Rally4. Armstrong’s determination to climb up through the categories was clear, and he would also claim a Junior ERC3 win on Rally Poland in the same year, his first outing in the Fiesta Rally3.
Armstrong saw in another year of rapid development in the Rally3 across both ERC and WRC feeder categories in 2022, claiming a handful of strong class results throughout the season in the Junior WRC3 category. These successes would then secure a full 2023 ERC programme in the Rally3, and Armstrong made a good first impression with a class win in ERC3 on his season debut on Rally Serras de Fafe. After another four category wins across both asphalt and gravel surfaces, he would go on to claim the ERC3 Championship, marking a career first championship win.
The 2023 season also saw Armstrong make an impressive debut in the Fiesta Rally2 on the Royal Rally of Scandinavia. Fighting in a highly competitive ERC field, on a brand-new and very tough event, alongside the challenge that the step-up to Rally2 machinery brings, Armstrong delivered a fantastic drive and finished the event 11th overall.
These accomplishments not only underscore Armstrong’s rising star status but also bring him to his first full Rally2 season with a strong relationship with M-Sport UK and M-Sport Poland. M-Sport feels Armstrong’s career so far exemplifies the effectiveness of the Rally Progression Pyramid and that the young driver is a perfect representative for M-Sport machinery in the European Rally Championship.
“It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to complete a full year behind the wheel of a Rally2 car,” commented Armstrong. “We’ve been working on this for numerous years and I’m very grateful to M-Sport for the opportunity along with support from the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, Seacon UK, C&M Motorsport Sales, and all of my close partners.”
“It is brilliant to be working closely with Eoin [Treacy] and the MI Academy this year and I am really proud to be representing the rallying community at home.
“I am excited to collaborate with the other MI Academy members and to work towards our goals together.”
Just as newspapers and magazines are paid for, digital editorial content will also have to be paid for.
Please subscribe and help us keep this machine running!
It’s only €50 per year – subscribe now
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
Kerry Motorsport News 