M-Sport Ford Expands Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy Partnership for 2026 WRC Season

M-Sport Ford World Rally Team has confirmed an expanded collaboration with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy for the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship, strengthening its commitment to developing Irish rallying talent at the sport’s highest level.

Academy crew Josh McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy will return for a second full season in the Ford Puma Rally1, joined by Rally1 debutants Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne, who step up to the premier class following a highly successful European Rally Championship campaign.

Irish Quartet to Debut Together at Rallye Monte-Carlo

All four Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy representatives will line up together at the 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the WRC season. The expanded line-up combines McErlean and Treacy’s experience from their maiden Rally1 season in 2025 with Armstrong’s extensive JWRC and ERC pedigree, creating a strong foundation for the year ahead.

McErlean and Treacy made a notable impression during their debut season, adapting quickly to Rally1 machinery. Their campaign began with a seventh-place finish at a challenging, icy Rallye Monte-Carlo, followed by consistent points finishes across the season, including eighth in Portugal and seventh-place results in Finland and at the Central European Rally.

The pair demonstrated clear development throughout 2025 and are now targeting further progress and more consistent top-level results in 2026.

Armstrong and Byrne Earn Rally1 Promotion After ERC Success

Armstrong’s promotion to Rally1 marks the next step in a career closely aligned with Ford rally machinery. Having competed in Ford cars since his early days in the British Rally Championship, Armstrong built a strong international reputation with two Junior World Rally Championship runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2022 driving a Fiesta Rally3 with M-Sport Poland.

A standout ERC3 title in 2023, followed by a competitive ERC Rally2 campaign in 2024, set the stage for a breakthrough 2025 season alongside Shane Byrne. The duo secured multiple ERC podiums, including victories in Wales Rali Ceredigion and Croatia Rally, narrowly missing out on the ERC title by just six points.

Buoyed by this momentum, Armstrong and Byrne will now make their Rally1 debut in the Ford Puma Rally1 at Rallye Monte-Carlo, stepping into the top tier of world rallying.

M-Sport Confident of Strong 2026 WRC Campaign

M-Sport Team Principal Richard Millener expressed his enthusiasm for the strengthened partnership and expanded line-up, highlighting McErlean and Treacy’s impressive progression and Armstrong’s long-term development within the Ford rally structure.

The continued collaboration with the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy underlines M-Sport’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent while maintaining competitiveness at WRC level.

Further announcements regarding M-Sport Ford’s remaining 2026 driver line-up are expected in the coming weeks.

Drivers Looking Ahead to 2026 Challenge

Josh McErlean described his return to M-Sport as a major milestone, citing increased confidence and clarity after a demanding debut season. Jon Armstrong called his Rally1 promotion a “dream come true,” crediting M-Sport and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy for their long-term support.