Latest news with #EoinTreacy
BBC News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
'No room for error' - McErlean prepares for Italy
Josh McErlean believes Rally Italia Sardegna will be "one of the toughest rallies" in his debut World Rally Championship M-Sport Ford driver will compete in Italy for the fist time in WRC1 machinery after a strong previous round in narrow and rocky gravel roads through the mountains, combined with the summer heat, make the rally in Sardinia one of the most gruelling on the WRC calendar."There's no room for error here – it's narrow, rough, and can catch you out at any second," said Motorsport Ireland driver McErlean."You have to learn to love this rally. You can't fight it or it will bite you back."It's a real test for both car and crew, and that's exactly what makes it so rewarding."After a late deal to graduate to the top tier of world rallying with M-Sport, the opening five rounds of the season have been a baptism of fire for the 25-year-old from Northern he had his best performance of the season in Portugal in May as he and co-driver Eoin Treacy finished in eighth place, ahead of more experienced team-mate Gregoire Munster and the highly-rated Martins Sesks. "We had a positive run in Portugal, and the goal is to carry that rhythm into this weekend," added McErlean."I feel we're progressing in the right direction. We're learning more about the Ford Puma on gravel with every kilometre, and this weekend will be another big step for us."The first of the 16 stages takes place on Friday and the event will finish in Olbia on Sunday.
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Familiar surface and surroundings just what I need to hit back in Portugal, says Josh McErlean
McErlean makes his fifth start in a M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 this week alongside Eoin Treacy, keen to bounce back from last month's disappointment on Rally Islas Canarias. The pair were forced to retire on the last day after an incorrect pace note meant McErlean carried too much speed into a tightening right-hander, hit an Armco barrier and bent the rear suspension. Afterwards, Team Principal Richard Millener offered a robust defence of his new-for-2025 signing, saying the 25-year-old fully deserved his opportunity to compete at the top level. At one of his favourite events, and on his preferred surface, McErlean is keen to repay that unanimous vote of public confidence with a solid finish on his fifth visit to Rally de Portugal. 'It feels incredible to be heading back to Rally Portugal,' he said. 'This rally means a lot to me. We had an amazing result here last year, and I have been itching to return event since. 'This time, doing it in a Rally1 Puma just makes it even more exciting. It also marks the beginning of the gravel season — and there is nowhere better to kick it off than in Portugal.' In readiness for the 24 stages and 215 miles that lie in store, McErlean completed a pre-event test last week with the British squad on a series of roads similar to the sandy, clay-based surface that is renowned for becoming more rocky and rutted on the second pass. 'Whilst I have done a few events over the years in Portugal, they are all in stark contrast to travelling over the stages in a Rally1 Puma,' he said. 'Our expectations remain realistic. 'We are still learning with every kilometre, but it is safe to say I have been looking forward to this one. The fans, the atmosphere, the roads — everything about Portugal is just mega.' M-Sport Ford will run a third car in Portugal, with McErlean's regular driving mate Gregoire Munster being joined by Latvian prospect Martins Sesks for the second of his six outings this year.
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Irish WRC duo and their car are star guests at the MI Rally Academy J1000 Development Day at Mondello Park
THE recent Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy J1000 Development Day at Mondello Park was a huge success. There were 31 Junior 1000 competitors from the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series and Forest Rally Championship taking part in the academy's latest development day with training workshops including driver, fitness, performance and equipment coaching. Advertisement And as an added bonus M-Sport's Ford Puma Rally1 was in attendance too, but not just as a centre piece to be enjoyed. Irish World Rally Championship duo Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy were also at Mondello offering passenger runs in this amazing machine. 4 WRC FUTURE STARS: WRC drivers Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy with MI Rally Academy founder John Coyne plus drivers from the FIA Rally pyramid and J1000 Credit: Darren Liggett I was invited along by Red Bull Ireland as both Josh and Eoin are athletes of the energy drink company, and I was one of the lucky punters who got to enjoy two very hot, but also very wet, laps around Mondello. Also on track was a Hyundai i20 Rally2, usually seen in action with MI Rally Academy founder and patron John Coyne at the wheel. Advertisement European Rally Championship contender Jon Armstrong did demonstration runs before academy members sampled Rally2 power on the slippery circuit. While the excitement of seeing McErlean power-slide his WRC car around Mondello's rain-soaked track unsurprisingly stole the show, there were a host of special guests and visitors present at the venue. The J1000 crews were joined by their friends and families as they rubbed shoulders with a host of media representatives, podcasters, influencers, Red Bull Ireland and national broadcaster RTE. As J1000 rallying in Ireland continues to go from strength to strength, with both entries and competitiveness increasing, the development day was another key step in recognising its importance to and close relationship with the MI Rally Academy. Advertisement Most read in Motors 4 LET LOOSE: M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 car going sideways in the wet around Mondello Credit: MI Rally Academy So as well as showcasing J1000 and the MI Rally Academy's WRC crew of McErlean and Treacy, another highlight was the first time the FIA's complete Rally Pyramid was on display in Ireland at the same time. Mondello was packed with Rally5 cars right up to the Rally1 Puma, and the teenage J1000 crews also got to bring their rally-specification hot-hatches to the event. The event was held a couple of days after the two-year anniversary of the passing of WRC driver Craig Breen, who was a great supporter of the MI Rally Academy. Advertisement So it was no surprise to see so many of the drivers all wearing 'Breenie' bobble hats in honour of their Irish rallying hero. With academy members competing in Rally4, Rally3, Rally2 and Rally1 championships this year, cars in attendance included Craig Rahill's front-running Junior European Rally Championship Peugeot 208 Rally4 as well as Coyne's Hyundai i20 Rally2. Coyne, who travelled over from his home in the USA for the special occasion, had been in action on the Moonraker Forest Rally four days earlier where he finished in 11th place. 4 DREAM TEAM: WRC driver Josh McErlean and his co-pilot Eoin Treacy pictured with Motorsport Ireland members Credit: MI Rally Academy Advertisement The 1982 Irish Tarmac Rally champion also finished fourth in the 1982 Circuit of Ireland Rally, one minute behind WRC legend Henri Toivonen, and ahead of Billy Coleman, Hannu Mikkola and Ari Vatanen. Coyne was also in action in the i20 Rally2 on the Circuit of Ireland over the weekend along with MI Rally Academy co-driver Killian McArdle. And after Friday and Saturday's asphalt stages were complete they brought their i20 home in 18th. Speaking afterwards, Coyne said: 'Happy with 18th overall, 10th RC2 on my first tarmac rally in six years. After a one-minute-20-second off on SS1 we dropped to 69th overall. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun 'It took some time to gain confidence, but I'm happy that my pace improved steadily with our best stage result being 11th-fastest on SS10.' See: 4 GENERATION GAME: WRC driver Josh McErlean with MI Rally Academy founder and patron John Coyne Credit: MI Rally Academy
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
My wet and wild passenger ride in full-blown 500bhp M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 with Irish WRC driver Josh McErlean
I'VE been very lucky to enjoy many fast laps around Mondello Park in many different cars. Sometimes I'd be driving myself behind the wheel of a BMW M car or something else fast like a Honda Civic Type R, and more recently an Audi R8 supercar. Advertisement I've also sat shotgun in the passenger seat with some of Mondello's professional racing drivers as they show you exactly how you should be charging one of their cars around the track. I've even sat with Formula 2 star Alex Dunne as he effortlessly piloted a Porsche Boxster around the course at breakneck speeds. 5 WRC WILD RIDE: Returning back to the pits with WRC driver Josh McErlean after two laps around the Mondello Park track Credit: Colm Lawless But a couple of weeks ago I ticked another box off the bucket list as I got to experience the full force of a full-blown FIA World Rally Championship car. The car in question was the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 car that was at Mondello as Advertisement I was invited along by my friends Red Bull Ireland as part of the media and got to meet and interview M-Sport's new Irish WRC duo, driver Josh McErlean and his co-pilot Eoin Treacy. But the Puma Rally1 wasn't just there as a centre piece for the J1000 Development Day — Josh was also doing passenger runs around a very wet Mondello Park. 5 DREAM TEAM: M-Sport Ford WRC drivers Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy Credit: Darren Liggett Key Facts: M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 Cost: €1m estimate Engine: 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo, plus 100kW electric motor Power: 500bhp Torque: 500Nm 0-100kph: 3.2 seconds Brakes: Brembo four-pistons Gearbox: 5-speed sequential Weight: 1.260kg (Without crew) The weather was in complete contrast to this week's amazing sunshine but, to be honest, the very slippy conditions and wet track turned the passenger run experience up to the max. Advertisement The Puma Rally1 is an absolute beast of a machine. Most read in Motors Sitting on a purpose-built space frame chassis, it's powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo and it uses a 100kW electric motor to boost the power up to 500bhp and 500Nm of torque. The car only weighs 1,260kg so power to weight really comes into play, and the Puma uses a clever all-wheel drive system with mechanical front and rear limited slip diffs and a 50-50 torque split. 5 DREAM MACHINE: First time the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally 1 has been in Ireland Credit: Darren Liggett Advertisement So all of that means the grip is sensational and it will blitz 0-100kph in around three seconds on any surface. The Kilrea driver was killing it, manhandling the Puma like it was a toy, throwing it into corners and, on many occasions, I thought the car would spin out as we were literally doing backward entry drifts. But the Puma's power and grip from the front wheels would pull us straight again as Josh danced on the pedals and slammed through the gears down another straight. Then he was hard on the brakes for more sideways shenanigans that would score him top marks in a Drift Masters qualifying session. Advertisement 5 LAP OF HONOUR: Media and rally fans patiently wait for a passenger run in WRC Puma Credit: Darren Liggett I also managed a few minutes with Josh and Eoin for a quick Q&A and here are the results: Josh McErlean Q&A: Q: You learned to drive in Northern Ireland in a right hand drive, but now you rally in a left-hand drive car. What side of the car are you more comfortable in now? Advertisement A: All the car I rally in are built in Europe so they are left hand drive, but when I started when I was 17 in a left-hand drive rally car. I do drive a right-hand drive road car at the minute but it's still strange when I land back into Dublin airport and then you're driving on the wrong side of the road. Q: How was the experience transitioning from a WRC2 to a WRC1 car? A: Initially it's the power and the downforce with the extra aerodymanics that the car has and that improves the challenge. OK, you can drive the car, but trying to drive it fast, that's the next step. Monte Carlo was a big challenge, going into the rally with limited experience, there was snow and ice and everything thrown at you. It's been a whirlwind honestly since December, we didn't even know if this was going to happen, it came on quite suddenly, so it's been a quick learning curve. But the M-Sport Team has done an incredible job brigning us up to speed. Q: What has been your favourite rally out of the 2025 season so far? Advertisement A: Sweden purely because driving the car in the snow is a mindshift compared to everything else. The studded tyres and the grip is quite mind blowing. We actually had good rhythm setting top times but on Sunday moring we ended up in a snow back and had to dig ourselves out. Q: What was the toughest WRC rally? A: From a physically demanding side, it was Kenya, but mentally Id say Monte Carlo as the pressure was on stepping up from WRC2 to WRC1. Q: Is the M-Sport Puma the best rally car you've ever driven? Advertisement A: Without a doubt, it's something else and to be in it for a full year in WRC is incrdible. Q: And how are things going with M-Sport are you paet of the family now and settling in well? A: Everyone thinks M-Sport is afamily team and that's exactly what we get out of it. The whole team have been so welcoming so it such a nice team to be in. Q: Who is your rally hero? Advertisement A: Sebastien Loeb Q: What is your favourite rally car of al time? A: The Puma of course but it would have been something else to have driven any of the 2017 rally cars. Q: After my two, mostly sideways hot laps with you around Mondello I was wondering if you've ever thought of doing a Kalle Rovanperä and entering a few Drift Masters rounds? Advertisement A: It's quite east to drive this car like that , I relate it to a PlayStation game as that's what it feels like. But if the oppertunity ever came out to try out Conor Shanahan's drift car I'd be up for it. Q: Now you are a Red Bull Athlete, what is your favourite Red Bull Drink? A: Tropical is nice but I'm still an original flavour man. 5 DYNAMIC DUO: Irish M-Sport Ford drivers, Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy Credit: M-Sport Advertisement Eoin Treacy Q&A: Q: What was the step up from WRC2 car to a WRC1 car like? A: It was a big step up, the biggest thing was the change in pace because you are moving so fast in the cars now your breaking distances are shorter so it really changes how you call notes. Q: Can you still expereince the sensation of speed in the WRC car even though you are so focussed on your pace notes and everything else going on inside the car? Advertisement A: You do feel the speed, but if you do a run in the car without reading notes it really hits you then. Q: Has it always been pacenotes for yourself or have you ever thought of being a driver? A: Always notes, but once a year I do a rally sprint. Q: What is your favourite WRC rally this year? Advertisement A: I loved every single one, Monte Carlo was so iconic. Kenya is so wild and it's a classic becuase its a safari. But the feeling of snow in Sweden was special, it was my first time on snow and to travel at that speed in a car like that is remarkable. Q: So what was the toughest WRC rally? A: Kenya for sure, but the most fun was Sweden. Q: Is the Puma the best rally car you've been in? Advertisement A: Yes for sure, its Rally1, the top of the FAI pyramid, it;s insane, just what the cars can do, it's constantily amazing. Q: What is your favourite rally car ever? A: Citroen Xsara WRC, watching Leob dominate in one, but closer to home its a Toyota Corolla AE86 Twin Cam. Q: You are 6 foot 5 inches tall, did the Puma's seat have to be lowered in anyway to allow you to fit in when wearing a helmet? Advertisement A: Ha, no, these modern cars have a lot of headroom. Q: Rally hero? A: Sebastien Loeb. Read more on the Irish Sun Q: What is your favourite Red Bull Drink? Advertisement A: Original or Watermellon.
