Jon Armstrong goes off the road at Rally Islas Canarias
25th April 2026M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong has gone off the road and into a ditch at the World Rally Championship’s Rally Islas Canarias, but thankfully, the crew was okay.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Ireland’s Armstrong had a moment in the late stages of Saturday’s final stage, going off the road and into a ditch at high speed, on SS14 (Moya – Galdar 2).
Fortunately, the Irishman was able to get back onto the road and go once more.
The Puma Rally1 driver was quickly approaching a right-hand bend at the 28km test when his Puma understeered off the road and headed towards a barrier protected by tyres.
Opting against hitting the armco barrier, Armstrong aimed his car off the road and ploughed into the foliage. The Irishman was able to bring his car to a stop in the grass and managed to get it turned around.
It was initially beached as he tried to power his way uphill and back onto the hill. His co-driver, Shane Byrne, was forced to get out, and with the help of fans, they managed to get the car back on the road.
Back on firm asphalt, Armstrong pulled off the road to allow Byrne to get in. Whilst they were able to continue until the flying finish, the incident and the time lost meant that teammate Joshua McErlean was just behind them on the road.
After the Ford driver got to the end of the stage, Armstrong claimed that he ‘can’t trust’ what he is doing at the moment.
His Puma was significantly damaged with chunks missing on his front bumper, and damage to the rear of his car. But as it is the last stage of the day, M-Sport will have time to make repairs.
It is not the first time Armstrong has had a moment during the rally.
On Friday, he suffered another moment of understeer, but the Irish crew was able to escape unscathed. The Irishman’s Puma refused to apply the Irishman’s steering input and understeered off the road at a right-hand bend. He was able to force the car into a slide and slid down an access road before returning to the circuit.
There was no damage at that moment, only time lost and a dent to Armstrong’s confidence in the event.
Read more WRC here:
- Sebastien Ogier leads Toyota quintet after Rally Islas Canarias Saturday morning
- Sebastien Ogier holds overnight lead after day two of WRC Rally Islas Canarias
- Sebastien Ogier tops morning loop of WRC Rally Islas Canarias day 2
- WRC Rally Islas Canarias: SS3 cancelled due to spectator cars
- Takamoto Katsuta takes overnight lead at Rally Islas Canarias
- Oliver Solberg tops opening test of Rally Islas Canarias shakedown
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
