Two Irish WRC crews confirmed with M-Sport Ford for 2026

Kilrea's Josh McErlean and Killeagh's Eoin Treacy will be joined by Kesh driver Jon Armstrong and his Donegal co-driver Shane Byrne at M-Sport Ford next season

Josh McErlean (right) and Eoin Treacy will have a second season in the top flight of the WRC with the M-Sport Ford WRT. Picture: M-Sport.

Next season's World Rally Championship will feature a twin-pronged attack from two Irish crews, both competing with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team. Last season's regulars Kilrea's Josh McErlean and Killeagh's Eoin Treacy will be joined by Kesh driver Jon Armstrong and his Donegal co-driver Shane Byrne, who were European Rally Championship double event winners this season and finished third in the series.

Both crews are benefiting from the financial support of the Motorsport Ireland Academy through its founder and patron John Coyne, a former Irish Tarmac Rally champion, who was recently inducted into the Motorsport Ireland Hall of Fame. 

In the season just ended McErlean and Treacy had three seventh place finishes in their Ford Puma Rally1 - the first in the opening round in Monte Carlo as they went on to gain valuable experience in a 13 round campaign. Now, Coyne wants that experience to be turned into performance in what he describes as being "a crucial phase in any top-level driver’s journey.” 

M-Sport team principal Richard Millener said, “I’m very happy to announce that we will be welcoming Josh and Eoin back to the team for the 2026 season. They had a brilliant debut season and their progression with such limited Rally1 experience was very clear to see, so it’s great to be able to give them the opportunity to continue this upward trajectory. It’s also very exciting to see Jon (Armstrong) and Shane (Byrne) get the opportunity to make the step-up to Rally1 machinery with us. Jon’s been working towards this opportunity for a long time now, and his strong ERC performances at the end of last season made it impossible to ignore him." 

Millener paid tribute to the MI Academy and is looking forward to developing the partnership further as M-Sport head into 2026. M-Sport has yet to announce the rest of the team for next season that begins in Monte Carlo on January 22-25.

On the announcement, McErlean said, "I’m absolutely thrilled to be confirmed with M-Sport for the 2026 WRC season, and I’m incredibly grateful for the continued support from both the team and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. To have another season at this level means a lot. I’m in a completely different place mentally compared to this time last year, stronger, clearer, and ready to enjoy the challenge ahead. My focus now is on myself, performing to the best of my ability, and making the most of this fantastic opportunity with Eoin alongside me.” 

For Armstrong, it's the culmination of something that he's been devoted to for a long time. 

"Obviously, I'm very grateful for the opportunity to drive a Rally1 car," he said. "To be able to compete in the top tier of rallying is definitely a dream come true. We’ve had a very strong season in ERC, showed our potential, and naturally you then want to see what you can do in the World Rally Championship."

The Kesh native has spent most of his career with M-Sport.