Armstrong seals best-ever WRC result with seventh on Sardinia’s Rally1 farewell
Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne finished seventh overall on Rally Sardinia, securing their best result on their maiden World Rally Championship campaign.
The WRC’s 2026 finale was the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew’s first appearance on the Italian island's technical gravel stages. The challenge intensified after a stage four puncture dropped them to 16th before Armstrong recovered with fifth- and sixth-fastest times on stages six and seven to end Friday in eighth.
A solid drive on Saturday moved the Ford Puma Rally1 pairing into seventh, a season-best position they held onto through Sunday’s final four stages.
"So, Rally Sardegna is finished," said Armstrong. "It was my first time here, so I didn't know what to expect, but the roads were really rough when we got there. We just had a strategy to stay out of trouble and get to the finish of the rally, so that's the goal achieved.”
"It's been really cool to be part of the last event with the Rally1 car. Overall, the season has had some highs, but a lot of lows. I think we can be happy with our potential, and hopefully we'll be able to put the experience we've gained this year into improving again next year.”
M-Sport team-mates Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy overcame Sardinia's difficult conditions to finish the event and their two-year stint aboard the Puma.
Fifth and sixth fastest times on stage three and four put McErlean in seventh overall on Friday, managing a brake fluid leak along the way. The Academy crew battled through Saturday morning's dusty conditions before clipping a tree on Sardinia's 12th test. The damage ultimately proved too much to continue with and their day ended on Saturday’s final stage.
M-Sport's world-class mechanics repaired the damage overnight, enabling McErlean and Treacy to enjoy their final day in the Puma.
"What a way to end the season," said McErlean. "Our rally was going quite well until, unfortunately, we hit a tree on Saturday evening. The team did a terrific job to change the engine overnight, with not much time to spare.”
"It's been a rollercoaster of a year, so I'm really thankful to have been in Rally1 for two years now. Let's see what the future holds, but there have been many great friends and memories made.”
County Tyrone co-driver Aaron Johnston salvaged a top-six finish alongside Katsuta despite suffering two punctures on Friday.
Back in Ireland, Academy co-driver Liam Callaghan claimed Class 2A victory and a stunning second in two-wheel-drive alongside Peugeot 208 R2 driver James McShea on the Laois Forestry Rally after a close battle with Oisin McShane.
Jack Harris and Aaron O'Regan were forced out of contention after engine failure on stage two, while an off-road moment ended Ross Ryan and James Deane's hopes on stage three.
