McErlean set for Rally1 debut at Rallye Monte Carlo

17 Jan

• Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean starts his first season in the World Rally Championship top-flight at Rallye Monte Carlo

• McErlean aims to "build step by step" in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1

• M-Sport driver gets first real taste of the Puma in a pre-event test

• Starting his second 'Monte', McErlean recognises the task ahead as "a moment I’ve always dreamt of"

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean embarks on the next step of his rallying career as he debuts in the topflight of the FIA World Rally Championship next week at Rallye Monte Carlo [23-26 January].

The 25-year-old from Kilrea will make his highly anticipated inaugural outing behind the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, joining the factory squad on the first of 14 rounds in the prestigious WRC calendar.

Marking a significant step in his burgeoning motorsport career, McErlean will battle with the best drivers in the world across some of the toughest landscapes and most challenging conditions in each corner of the globe, starting with the iconic Monaco-based event.

Teaming up with Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy co-driver Eoin Treacy for the season ahead, the duo will face their toughest challenge yet, with the unpredictable road conditions and weather adding to the already difficult task ahead in the ribbon of roads across the French Alps.

One of the oldest events in the motorsport calendar, the legendary event is steeped in history. Adding to its symbolic nature and with stages that wind across historic tests, such as the Col de Turini, ‘Monte’ is a dramatic backdrop to start the season with the four-day gruelling rally.

Having contested the event previously in 2023, McErlean is familiar with the requirements needed to conquer this unique challenge, but he is equally conscious of the heightened difficulty that comes with making his Rally1 debut on the roads of Rallye Monte Carlo.

“Since we launched our plans for the season, it’s been a real whirlwind. Of course, we have been ensuring we are as prepared as possible for the amazing challenge we are facing; it’s a very nice position to be in,” explains McErlean.

“But this is just the beginning for us and the start of a long season. So, we are approaching this like any other rally and aim to find our feet as quickly as possible. That’s not an easy task, but we are determined to do everything we can to have a clean, enjoyable rally and do our very best for the M-Sport team”.

McErlean enjoyed a successful pre-event test in France last week, in which he was able to gain valuable experience of the Ford Puma Rally1 in its natural environment. Half a day in the thick snow and ice was complemented by a further day on asphalt, ensuring he could sample most of the elements likely to be thrown at him during rally week.

The Irishman is now just a few days away from the rally, which gets underway with Shakedown on Wednesday [22 January] ahead of the competitive action the following evening.

“Starting in the heart of Casino Square on Thursday evening in a Rally1 car will be such an incredible privilege and a moment I’ve always dreamt of”, he continues.

“Rallye Monte Carlo is iconic. Its history, the challenging stages, and the unpredictable conditions make it so unique. For us, this is about enjoying the experience, taking it all in, and building step by step on our Rally1 debut. I feel so fortunate to be in this position, and of course, we’re excited to begin this journey. A massive thanks to all our partners and supporters for allowing us to compete at the highest level of the WRC”.

McErlean will also welcome back a range of partners for the season ahead, with Woodland NI, Admore Air Conditioning, SDC Trailers, Hutchinson Engineering, McCormack Contracting Inc and Fastener Connections continuing to be alongside during his journey. He also welcomes Shamrock Building Systems and EC Framing Inc. for the first time this season.

Rallye Monte Carlo begins with the ceremonial start in Monaco’s Casino Square on Thursday with three stages later that evening. Friday and Saturday offer the bulk of the rally mileage before a three-stage blast rounds out the rally on Sunday before the Monaco finish.