PRESS RELEASE: Acropolis Rally Greece preview
PRESS RELEASE
Armstrong and Byrne head to Greece for WRC round eight as the gravel summer opens with the Acropolis’s hot, rocky endurance test
Athens, Greece - 22 June 2026
Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne return to gravel this week as they tackle Acropolis Rally Greece, round eight of the FIA World Rally Championship.
The M-Sport Ford duo head to the Mediterranean following a solid points finish at Rally Japan, where Armstrong delivered a drama-free eighth-place result as top Ford finisher on the final asphalt event for the current generation of Rally1 cars.
Acropolis Rally Greece marks Armstrong’s return to gravel and the beginning of a string of loose-surface rallies that will define the second half of his maiden WRC season. Greece’s demanding stages are well known, with rocky sections giving the Acropolis its legendary status.
Further updates throughout the weekend will be published at jonarmstrongrally.com.
Shakedown begins on Thursday morning before a ceremonial start and opening super special stage in Athens takes place that evening. A further 16 stages complete the rally, with 323 competitive kilometres across Greece’s challenging gravel roads. The event is characterised by very hot, dusty conditions and numerous single-pass stages, particularly on Friday.
For Armstrong, Acropolis Rally Greece brings prior experience. The Fermanagh native has competed on the rally once before, finishing second in the Junior WRC category four years ago despite suffering a puncture.
Quote - Jon Armstrong
“I think it’s going to be very hot, very dusty, and a really tough challenge,” said Armstrong. “It’s quite a unique rally because there are a lot of single-pass stages, particularly on Friday, and we take an overnight ferry after the super special, which adds something a little different to the experience.
“Overall, it’s very much an endurance rally. The key will be surviving the conditions, staying out of trouble as much as possible, and managing the event in the right way. It’s one of those rallies where you always have to keep the bigger picture in mind because the conditions can be extremely demanding on both the car and the crew.
“I spent two days with Fit for Race in Hungary doing a heat and cognitive training camp, which was really beneficial. A lot of the preparation has been focused on getting ready for the high temperatures, including things like sauna sessions and heat adaptation work.
“On the driving side, we completed a shakedown with the car at M-Sport yesterday, and we also had a pre-event test in Finland ahead of the fast gravel rallies coming up in Estonia and Finland. Any time behind the wheel is valuable, so it was good to be active in the car again and continue building experience.
“I want to keep building our gravel pace and knowledge. We’re into the gravel-heavy part of the season now, and I think the gravel tyre suits me a little better than the tarmac tyre, which is encouraging.
“It also gives us a chance to build some continuity. We can start developing a clearer understanding of each event, work out where we need to improve in terms of driving style and set-up, and keep making small steps forward.
“The main thing is to enjoy it, keep learning, and put together some clean rallies. If we can do that, hopefully we can achieve some strong results and really make the most of the second half of the season now that we’re past the halfway point.”
Notes to Editors
Event: Acropolis Rally Greece (Round 8 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship)
Location: Athens (ceremonial start and super special) / Loutraki, Corinthia (rally base), Greece
Stages: 17 stages (ceremonial start and super special in Athens, plus 16 further stages)
Distance: 323 competitive kilometres
Surface: Gravel - hot, dusty and rocky, with numerous single-pass stages, particularly on Friday
Schedule: Shakedown Thursday 25 June; ceremonial start and super special in Athens that evening; competitive stages Friday to Sunday, finishing Sunday 28 June
Driver / Co-driver: Jon Armstrong / Shane Byrne
Car: Ford Puma Rally1
Team: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team
Academy: Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy
Context: Return to gravel and the start of the gravel-heavy second half of Armstrong’s maiden Rally1 season; he finished second in Junior WRC here four years ago
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About Jon Armstrong
Jon Armstrong is an Irish rally driver and Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy representative competing in the FIA World Rally Championship. In 2026, he has stepped up to Rally1 for his first full WRC campaign with M-Sport, driving the Ford Puma Rally1 alongside co-driver Shane Byrne. More information: jonarmstrongrally.com
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