World Rally Championship driver, esports champion, and EA employee

Picture the roar of a rally car tearing down a dirt road, the driver inside gripping the wheel and preparing the precise execution of movements needed to pull off a perfectly executed drift, followed by the thrill of conquering treacherous terrain on their way to winning a championship. 

Few know this feeling first-hand, let alone on a frequent basis. But for Codemasters Game Designer Jon Armstrong, that’s about as normal as a Tuesday.

Because Jon is a former junior World Rally Championship (WRC) driver, current European Rally Championship (ERC) driver, and esports World Rally Championship winner who is continuing to build on and ensure WRC is the best rally game on the planet. For the past several years, Jon has turned his passion for rally driving into crafting entertainment experiences that capture the very soul of rally, utilizing the invaluable insights only a few like him could understand.                                                                       

“At one point, if I wasn’t at a rally, I was playing video games about rallying.”

Plugging into his spark

“I grew up in Ireland around rallying and motorsport,” says Jon. “My dad was primarily a mechanic and worked on trucks during the day. On the weekends, he would work on cars at rally events, and my brother and I would go with him.”

Pretty soon, Jon fell in love. From the beauty of the cars, to the rush of the competition. There was nothing quite like a rally.

“At one point, if I wasn’t at a rally, I was playing video games about rallying,” laughs Jon. “Then when I was about 10 years old, I was given my first steering wheel that could be played with the game.”

When Jon grew a little older, he found an opportunity to drive at an amateur rally out in Ireland. He did well, and from there his skills continued to grow. And within a couple of years, he made his way into the World Rally Championship.

“It was incredible, but the budget required to compete at that level is really hard to maintain,” says Jon. “I couldn’t keep up. So then I turned my attention to esports.”

Jon found himself going back to his childhood roots and playing for the 2018 World Rally Esports Championship in 2018. After placing into the top 10 across the world, he made it into the finals. 

“I wasn’t the standout player in that group,” says Jon. “But I was prepared for the pressure. I had spent years with cameras in my face, having eyes watching my every move. I was really focused, and I ended up winning it.”

Shortly after winning the championship, Jon was offered a role at Codemasters. At the time, he had already spoken with developers there, letting them know his thoughts on making the DiRT Rally game feel as close as possible to the real thing.

This just made things official.

“I let them know how it feels inside the car, how it handles, what specks of dirt are like on a lens. And I get to live on improving one of my favorite games in the world, and continue rally driving in my spare time.”

Crafting the real deal

At Codemasters, Armstrong’s insights have been incredibly impactful. His intimate knowledge of rally helps further infuse the game with a level of realism that mirrors the intense, exhilarating experience of actual rally stages. Armstrong collaborates closely with the remarkable development team who for years have put out the best rally game on Earth, offering intimate knowledge that ensures every element of the game—from vehicle handling to stage dynamics—authentically reflects the challenges and nuances of real-world rallying. His guidance helps ensure that players are not just spectators but are thrust into the heart of the action.

Jon's expertise and translation from in-car experience to digital worlds illuminates EA SPORTS' constant pursuit of creating experiences with unrivaled authenticity and immersion.

Transitioning from the high-speed world of rally driving to the intricate realm of video game development might seem like an unexpected leap, but for Armstrong, it’s a natural evolution of his lifelong passion. 

“It’s an amazing trade,” says Jon. “I let them know how it feels inside the car, how it handles, what specks of dirt are like on a lens. And I get to live on improving one of my favorite games in the world, and continue rally driving in my spare time.”

“This was an amazing opportunity to collaborate here, and build the world I always wanted to see inside one of my favorite games of all time.”

Living the dream

These days, Jon has positioned himself to return to real-world rallying. He recently competed in the European Rally Championship, achieving his first-ever fastest stage time on his way to claiming fifth overall in the ERC standings, with the final round taking place in Poland from October 11-13, 2024.

He loves that his job has him jumping from the virtual world of WRC to its real-world counterpart.

“It’s the most intensive form of research,” laughs Jon. “I love it. Codemasters and being a part of EA is an amazing experience. I get to live out my dreams.”

Codemasters has been making iconic games for over 30 years. Now a world-leader in racing simulation, they have studios in Southam and Birmingham (UK). In 2021, they became proud members of the EA SPORTS family.

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