'The goal is to show progression' - Jon Armstrong ready for Rallye Monte-Carlo

PROGRESSION: Jon Armstrong wants to "show progression" when he will steer the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 in this season's World Rally Championship. Picture: Martin Walsh.

It's easy to understand why Jon Armstrong feels he needs to pinch himself as Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the World Rally Championship rapidly approaches.

The Kesh native will be at the very pinnacle of the sport, steering the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1.

It's only a select group that make it that far so getting there isn't easy. But staying there is definitely even more difficult.

With Kilrea's Josh McErlean and his Killeagh co-driver Eoin Treacy already on the M-Sport WR team, having another Irish crew wasn't a forgone conclusion.

While Armstrong and his Donegal co-driver Shane Byrne impressed during their European Rally Championship campaign aboard an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2, it wasn't until mid-December before whispers of Rally1 began to get louder as Armstrong sat behind the wheel of the Rally1 projectile at M-Sport's facility in Greystoke.

"That was the first time I drove the car, it was really nice and actually I gelled with the car a lot easier than maybe I thought it would to get used to it - so that was a good sign. We (himself and co-driver Byrne) really enjoyed it, and I think that sort of helped as well.

"We had such a good feeling in the car, we were comfortable, you could see that on the onboards, and then when you pair that with our performances, you know, it makes sense to try and move up and have a go."

This season is the last of the current Rally1 era and that resonates with Armstrong.

"The goal is to show progression, then the rules are changing in '27, and there's going to be a lot more market change for drivers and teams, and there's going to be quite a difference in '27, so it's just trying to put ourselves in the best light that we can."

Of course, (like McErlean/Treacy) competing at the top of the WRC pyramid would not be possible were it not for the financial support of former Irish Tarmac champion John Coyne, something that Armstrong is acutely aware of and appreciates.

"It's a credit what he's (Coyne) done for me, for Josh (McErlean) and for a lot of other drivers."

Coyne is at the heartbeat of the Motorsport Ireland Academy, with Armstrong adding: "It's definitely starting to come to fruition, they've (MI Academy) got success at a lot of different levels - Junior WRC success along with what Josh has been doing and what we've been doing in the ERC and also what William Creighton has been doing in the British Championship as well.''

The fact that Coyne is a rally driver rather than just a financial benefactor is also important.

"John understands the sport and sees it from all aspects. Obviously, he has an extremely good business head on him as well and can think through how to manage people.

"That just doesn't include us, but also the team and from the driving perspective, he can give a lot of advice in terms of maybe taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture."

Having sampled the Junior WRC along his career path, Armstrong has been working towards getting back into the WRC, now it's reality although he didn't think it would result in a full season.

"Initially we thought it could be in WRC2 and maybe, just maybe, one or two Rally1 outings. To get a full season at the top level (Rally1) is pretty amazing and an opportunity that doesn't come around for everyone."

Armstrong/Byrne had a great end to last year with a strong second place in the Barum Czech Rally Zlín and wins in Rali Ceredigion and Croatia Rally.

"I think those results definitely helped M-Sport in terms of the Rally2 car and also it showed our credentials with the progression and what we might be able to achieve going forward."

Aware that it's going to be a big step in terms of the competition and learning the car, there are seven events that will be new to Armstrong, but that won't faze him.

"I will focus on the processes, like the recce (reconnaissance) take it step by step for every rally and just try to focus on doing what we can control and improve. You just got to make sure that you keep your head down and keep working and trust yourself, it's trying to strike a good balance most of the time."

As Armstrong and Byrne along with McErlean/Treacy complete a three-day M-Sport test session in France today (Monday) Rallye Monte-Carlo will be even closer.