The Good, the Bad, and the Trickiest Monte Ever
The 2026 World Rally Championship opener proved to be one of the most demanding Rallye Monte‑Carlo events in recent memory, with treacherous weather and constantly changing stage conditions pushing crews to their limits. For Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy drivers Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong, the iconic season opener delivered contrasting—but equally instructive—outcomes.
Beginning his second season in WRC1, Kilrea’s McErlean endured a weekend to forget. While flashes of pace were evident, the notoriously difficult conditions repeatedly caught him out. His rally ultimately came to an abrupt end following a final‑day incident that heavily damaged the front‑left corner of his M‑Sport Ford Puma Rally1. Although he managed to complete the penultimate stage, the extent of the damage prevented him from continuing on the subsequent road section.
In contrast, Rally1 newcomer Jon Armstrong from Kesh underlined why he has long been regarded as one of Ireland’s fastest drivers. Backed by John Coyne and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, Armstrong delivered a highly impressive top‑level performance. He claimed his first‑ever third‑fastest stage time and ran as high as sixth overall for much of the rally. His drive was marked by maturity, determination, and a measured approach focused on securing valuable manufacturer points.
However, Rallye Monte‑Carlo proved unforgiving for M‑Sport as a whole. For the first time since 2001, the team failed to score any manufacturer points at the event. All three Ford Puma Rally1 entries were ultimately sidelined, with team‑mate Grégoire Munster forced out by a technical issue on a road section. Armstrong’s rally ended after sustaining damage on the penultimate stage, while McErlean’s final‑day incident brought his weekend to a premature close.
Co‑driven by Donegal native Shane Byrne, Armstrong reflected on a challenging but encouraging debut at Rally1 level:
“It was a proper baptism of fire for our first WRC event in the Rally1 car. We were happy to show some good pace throughout the weekend, but ultimately we were aiming for a solid result, which we didn’t manage on this occasion.
“The conditions were crazy—a real challenge—and we’re already looking forward to a new test in Sweden.”
McErlean, navigated by Cork’s Eoin Treacy, was equally candid in his assessment:
“It was a really tough Rallye Monte‑Carlo for me personally and not the start to the season I wanted. Monte is an event that can catch anyone out, and it certainly tested me this weekend.
“Despite that, the support from M‑Sport and the team never wavered. There are still positives to take away, and I’ll use the lessons learned to reset and come back determined to show what we’re capable of.”
Elsewhere, Fintona navigator Aaron Johnston finished an impressive seventh overall alongside Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
In WRC2, Eamon Boland from Wexford and his veteran Waterford co‑driver MJ delivered a solid performance, finishing 30th overall and claiming second place in the WRC Masters Cup. Meanwhile, Cavan co‑driver James Fulton endured disappointment after a stage‑15 accident forced retirement for the Rally2 Toyota GR Yaris he shared with Japan’s Yuki Yamamoto.
At the sharp end of the field, Sweden’s Oliver Solberg produced a masterclass and led from stage 2 to claim a dominant victory, finishing more than 50 seconds clear of Wales’ Elfyn Evans, with multiple world champion Sébastien Ogier completing the podium in third. The result sealed a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 podium lockout.
The victory marked Solberg’s first appearance in what is his first full season at Rally1 level, underlining the scale of his potential. With the championship now moving on to Sweden for round two, his progress will be closely watched.
Reflecting on an emotional triumph, Solberg said:
“I don’t understand it at the moment. It’s another emotional day—this is the most difficult rally I’ve done in my life. It was my first tarmac rally in this car, and here we are winning it. I just want to thank Toyota for the trust and belief they’ve shown in me. The teamwork has been exceptional.”