Kilrea star Josh McErlean reveals how he can take it to the next level at Rally Islas Canarias
McErlean continues to grasp just how quick the World Rally Championship's top breed of car actually is compared to the Skoda and Hyundai Rally2 machines he previously campaigned in.
He has enjoyed a consistent start since inking a works-backed effort with M-Sport, even if this has not always returned a points-scoring finish, such as February's Rally Sweden where a brush with a snowbank dropped him from sixth to 46th on the last day.
Rally Islas Canarias' mix of tight and twisty, fast and flowing mountain roads that skirt the Atlantic Ocean have a fearsome reputation for punishing small mistakes.
It is the first proper sealed surface fixture of the current season, although some of the mileage and data gleaned from January's Monte Carlo Rally — a meeting that tends to mix icy and snowy stretches of Tarmac with bone dry asphalt — should be of help.
'Monte Carlo gave me my first taste of what a Rally1 car can do on a sealed surface, but Rally Islas Canarias is different, it's full on, proper, smooth tarmac,' explained the 25-year-old, who is in shakedown action on Thursday morning before his attention turns to the first proper special stage on Friday.
'The goal is all about building on what I learned there from Monte and that means really putting my trusting in the car's aero — the downforce and grip these cars can create.
'These roads demand precision and commitment and I am really excited for that.'
Rally Islas Canarias is one of three new rallies to join the World Rally Championship roster, along with Rally Paraguay (August 28-31) and Rally Saudi Arabia (November 27-30).
'Monte, Sweden and Safari are all very unique whereas this is the first time we can look forward to driving on a clean surface and enjoy some consistency in grip,' said McErlean.
'I see it as an exciting next step.'
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