Armstrong will begin his first full season at the wheel of a top-tier car next week at the iconic Monte Carlo round. The 31-year-old’s contract with M-Sport Ford can be considered something of a surprise, but he undeniably delivered strong performances in the European Rally Championship last season.
Armstrong and fellow Irish driver Josh McErlean both received backing from Motorsport Ireland, and with the financial support of the partner organisation, a seat in a Rally1 car was secured.
“We were hopeful we would be doing something in the world championship. We were told we would be doing some rallies but we didn’t know. It was very cool especially when you turn up [at the workshop] and everyone is looking to see what drivers are getting out of the cars. It is quite a funny feeling, it was something out of fantasy or a dream,” Armstrong says on the WRC website.
“You always want to have that opportunity and for it to finally happen was very surreal, but we had done a good season and had a very strong European Rally Championship campaign. When it comes to Rally2 car sales Malcolm was very complimentary on the day on that being a very important topic for the company, and that we have really helped to revive a bit of interest in the Rally2 Fiesta. I guess it is a nice reward for what we have been able to do on a company level not just on a results level.”
Like many others, Armstrong began his rally career at a young age in sprint events. The year 2016 marked his first major opportunity when he competed in the Drive Dmack Cup in the World Rally Championship. Armstrong finished third, which was enough to earn him a few outings in the WRC2 category, although these did not produce any major results.
When the door to the WRC did not open, Armstrong shifted his focus to esports and won the WRC eSports Championship in 2018.
“We had good performance from the prize Rally2 drives but ultimately we didn’t get an opportunity off the back of that so then I turned my attention to esports and managed to be the champion in that after one year, which was quite cool.”
“It took a lot of effort and dedication to be fair. Those [esports] guys are very committed and talented and lot of practice and hours went into it. I have always been motivated by rallying and trying to achieve something that I believe I can do. I never really give up and I have never had the feeling that I don’t want to keep trying.”
Thanks to his esports success, Armstrong had two opportunities in the Junior WRC category in the early 2020s. He did not quite manage to go all the way to the title, but little by little he has succeeded in raising his level behind the wheel of a real rally car to the very brink of the absolute elite.
“I have always wanted to keep the dream alive until I was not able to keep going anymore. The fact that I got back into the Junior WRC and finished second twice was thanks to my involvement with Codemasters and their sponsorship, which was part of the reason I joined the company because it was a good opportunity career-wise,” Armstrong explains.
“I have always wanted to keep the dream alive until I was not able to keep going anymore. The fact that I got back into the Junior WRC and finished second twice was thanks to my involvement with Codemasters and their sponsorship, which was part of the reason I joined the company because it was a good opportunity career-wise.”
This season, Armstrong will be giving away a great deal in terms of experience. He will be driving a top-category car for the first time, and many WRC rallies will also be completely new to the Irishman.
“It is difficult to really know [my expectations for 2026] as some rallies I have more experience than others so I think we will try to maximise those opportunities and see where our pace is at. In the other rallies it will be a case of feeling how the event goes and see where our pace is at, while learning,” Armstrong says.
“With the regulations changing in 2027, there is hopefully an opportunity going forward with either M-Sport or another team so it is a case of trying to prove that we can hold our own at that level. Of course, nobody goes in and starts getting podiums straight away, so it will be about being realistic and showing that your performances are getting better after each rally.”
