Jon Armstrong will contest the 2024 European Rally Championship behind the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2, after the Kesh driver was rewarded for his title-winning 2023 season with a factory-supported drive.
Armstrong admits the deal to step up to Rally2 for the eight-round European series is "a dream come true" as he prepares to take on some of the world’s best drivers in the ultra-competitive championship alongside Co. Cork co-driver Eoin Treacy.
“It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to complete a full year behind the wheel of a Rally2 car,” admitted the 29-year-old.
“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 and the MI Academy this year and I am really proud to be representing the rallying community at home.”
Armstrong has already spent several days testing with M-Sport to get used to his new car ahead of the first round of the series in Hungary from April 12-14.
He managed an eleventh-placed finish in his solitary Rally2 outing last year at the Royal Rally of Scandinavia, and he is expecting a difficult challenge this year as he commits to the full championship for the first time.
“ERC is an intense challenge with a very high standard in terms of drivers and lots of competition,” he acknowledged. “I see it as the ideal place to prove myself, the team, and the car. Each rally has its own unique character and especially this season there’s some new events that should keep everyone on their toes.”
Armstrong’s first overseas success came in the World Rally Championship’s 2016 Drive DMACK Cup where he claimed victories on Rally Poland and Rally Catalunya in a Ford Fiesta R2T.
His Ford Fiesta R5 debut arrived a year later with two impressive WRC2 outings in Germany and Spain, including his first fastest WRC2 stage time.
Two years in Junior WRC from 2021 to 2022 gave Armstrong three event wins, but he twice narrowly missed out on the JWRC title before securing the first championship of his career when he won five rounds of last year’s ERC3 on his way to taking the crown.
His performances caught the eye of M-Sport UK Chairman Malcolm Wilson, who has now sanctioned a move to bring Armstrong into the M-Sport stable.
“Jon’s achievements in 2023 exemplify the talent and potential we strive to support at M-Sport,” said Wilson.
“Our philosophy has always centred on identifying and nurturing young drivers, providing them with the platform to excel at the highest levels of rallying. Jon’s progression so far and this new chapter with us for the 2024 ERC is a testament to our tradition of fostering talent and ambition in the sport.”
The deal will continue Armstrong's long association with Ford, which began right from the start of his rallying career.
“I have driven M-Sport-built cars in all but one season since I began rallying,” he said.
“M-Sport was 100 per cent where I wanted to be. For Malcolm and Rich [Millener] to give me the opportunity to drive for M-Sport is a dream come true and I must give a special mention to M-Sport Poland and Maciek Woda who have been fundamental in supporting me in recent seasons.”
2024 European Rally Championship calendar:
R1 - Rally Hungary (Gravel) // 12-14 April
R2 - Rally Islas Canarias (Asphalt) // 02-04 May
R3 - Royal Rally of Scandinavia (Gravel) // 13-15 June
R4 - Rally Estonia (Gravel) // 05-07 July
R5 - Rally di Roma Capitale (Asphalt) // 26-28 July
R6 - Barum Czech Rally Zlin (Asphalt) // 16-18 August
R7 - Rali Ceredigion (Asphalt) // 30 Aug - 01 Sep
R8 - Rally Silesia (Asphalt) // 11-13 Oct
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