5 days ago
Josh McErlean relishing Sardinian WRC test
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean is in action at the Rally Italia Sardegna this weekend for round six of the World Rally Championship and determined to continue his upward trajectory behind the wheel of his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1.
McErlean, who was a WRC2 driver, was a surprise choice to compete for the full M-Sport Ford World Rally Team this year.
His chance though came when Frenchman Adrian Formaux quit the M-Sport team to move to Hyundai this season and the British team decided to go with a younger, less experienced three-driver line-up, which included Derryman McErlean.
So far the Irish driver has been in the points, his best result a fine seventh place in the opening Monte Carlo Rally, while McErlean finished eighth in the last round in Portugal.
The 25-year-old driver from Kilrea was M-Sport's top points scorer during the weekend in Portugal.
That momentum will be key on the Italian island's punishing stages, which includes Micky's Jump as part of the Lerno–Su Filigosu stage, one of the most famous jumps in world rallying.
Last year's event saw the the joint-closest WRC finish in history, when Ott Tanak beat Sebastien Ogier to victory by two-tenths of a second.
The event is held on narrow gravel tracks, which cut through mountainous forests, pushing drivers and machinery to the limit.
Sardinia's abrasive gravel also gives it one of the highest tyre-wear rates in the whole season.
"Sardinia is one of the toughest rallies on the calendar, no question," said McErlean, who went on to finish fourth fastest in the shakedown.
"There's no room for error here – it's narrow, rough, and can catch you out at any second.
"But after the positive result in Portugal, I feel we're progressing in the right direction.
"We're learning more about the Puma on gravel with every kilometre, and this weekend will be another big step for us."
The event opens with a ceremonial start in Olbia before two loops on Friday through Gallura's gritty, technical stages.
Saturday will provide the ultimate test, featuring the infamous Lerno–Su Filigosu test.
Sunday's action rounds off with a mix of returning classics and a new power stage on the coast at Porto San Paolo.
"You have to learn to love this rally, you can't fight it, or it will bite you back", added McErlean.
"It's a real test for both car and crew, and that's exactly what makes it so rewarding. We had a positive run in Portugal, and the goal is to carry that rhythm into this weekend."
Meanwhile, two days of motor racing action lie ahead for race fans at Mondello Park this weekend as the second round of the ICCR series approaches.
The Siltex Safety Zetec Fiestas once again have the largest grids and with a win apiece so far in 2025, Sean McGovern and Alan Dawson will be keen to take the top step of the podium once again.
Formula Ford returns to the Kildare venue ahead of the Historic Festival in August and despite a relatively small entry list, all the big FF1600 names are there.
Jason Smyth and Morgan Quinn are looking forward to a return to Irish tarmac and, having taken plenty of wins between them across the water, won't be here to make up numbers.
Stephen O'Connor is fast, if a touch erratic, but could spring a surprise against the younger opposition if the planets align.
BOSS Ireland is back at Mondello too, and all eyes will be on Limerick's Paul Having done most of his racing abroad recently, he brings his 590bhp Dallara World Series to Mondello Park.
He was have to tackle the nimble F3 cars of reigning champion Tony Greenan and Noel Robinson.
It's a battle of the V8s in the HRCA Historics as Jackie Cochrane's 5.0 Sunbeam Tiger fights off the similarly powered Ginetta G10 of son-in-law Gareth Thompson.
