McErlean puts on a Monza masterclass at World Rally Championship finale
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy star Josh McErlean produced a stunning drive at the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship to take seventh place in the WRC3 category at an unforgiving ACI Rally Monza, driving a Hyundai i20 R5 (3-6 December).
The 2019 Billy Coleman Award winner coped with biblical-like conditions throughout the weekend, tackling thick snow, heavy rain, and mud strewn stages to secure his maiden WRC finish on his debut in the category.
With co-driver Keaton Williams alongside, the young pairing impressed the entire service park with a series of top stage times, beating many WRC regulars in the process to take his Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing i20 to 17th overall in an impressive field of almost 100 starters.
“It’s been one of the toughest weekend’s I’ve ever had in the sport but I`m absolutely thrilled to have made it to the end of such a gruelling event and secure such a great result, for me, the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing” said McErlean at the finish.
“It was a dream come true to contest the event and I just had to grab the opportunity with both hands. It wasn’t without it’s drama’s, we had a few issues of our own but I`m proud of the way we handled them and to be setting some top-three WRC3 times is a good sign for the future. I`m truly indebted to those who put their trust in me, the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, John Coyne, and of course Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing. What a way to end the year!”