Jon Armstrong confirms mutual split from WRC co-driver Shane Byrne

Jon Armstrong confirms mutual split from WRC co-driver Shane Byrne

22nd October 2026 0 By Kamron Kent

M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong has confirmed to have separated mutually with his co-driver Shane Byrne on social media following the 2026 World Rally Championship season.

Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool

On Thursday, Armstrong has confirmed they are to part ways with their co-driver, Byrne, as part of a mutual separation as they look to move forward with different plans’ for the upcoming 2027 season.

The pair have been partnered up since 2025, when they competed in the European Rally Championship for M-Sport before moving up into the WRC – and Rally1 – in 2026, in their debut season with M-Sport Ford, swapping the Ford Fiesta for the Ford Puma.

On social media, Armstrong confirmed:

“With the dust now settled on the WRC season, and after taking some time to reflect on everything we’ve achieved together, Shane and I have agreed that the time is right for us both to move forward with different plans for the 2027 rally season.

“While it was a difficult decision, we both feel it presents an opportunity to explore new challenges going forward.  I’d like to thank Shane for all his hard work, commitment and effort over the past two years.

“Taking victory at Rali Ceredigion and Rally Croatia together will always be particularly special memories, as will the incredible opportunity to step up to Rally1 in the WRC this season.

“We’ve shared some fantastic moments along the way, and I wish Shane all the very best.”

During their time together, they racked up two rally wins in the ERC; Rali Ceredigion and Rally Croatia, where they pipped the field by 29.2 seconds and 45.7 seconds, respectively.

Whilst a win was not on the cards in 2026, during their time together in the WRC, Armstrong and Byrne still managed to claim their maiden stage wins together taking the fastest time on SS5 (Elikon Mt) at the WRC’s Acropolis Rally Greece.

The two also finished their debut WRC season seventh at Rally Italia Sardinia, their best result of the year, as they claimed 12th overall in the drivers standings.

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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.

CategoryNews Rallying WRC

About the author

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.

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