Latest news with #PumaRally1
Belfast Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Opening the road at Rally Sardinia was ‘proper punishment' after mishap, admits Josh McErlean
McErlean ran wide during the 'Telti-Calangianus-Berchidda' test, causing significant damage to the left-rear corner of his Puma Rally1 including its damper and driveshaft. Incredibly, all three Puma cars came a cropper on the 11.5-mile stretch of road – Martins Sesks walked away from a roll, while Gregoire Munster suffered a similar fate to McErlean. M-Sport mechanics worked wonders to fix the Kilrea man's machine on Friday and have it ready for the following day, but the trade-off for rejoining under the 'Super Rally' rule meant the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy member had to run first with co-driver Eoin Treacy. With more than six minutes of time penalties applied, adding to his points total on the sun-drenched island was always going to be a tall order. Instead, the 25-year-old used the seat time as an extended test for the Acropolis Rally on June 26-29. 'Running first on the road Saturday and Sunday following the mistake on Friday is proper punishment – I don't think anyone needs to shout at me, I fully understand why you can't make mistakes,' admitted McErlean. 'It was my first time running first on the road and opening a rally – any type of rally – so I have learned a lot from that, even on the Sunday when, second time over the stages, there were more ruts and surface changes. We can take some things forward into Greece. 'It was definitely a nasty rally. It was a shame because, I think on the Friday, we had the pace to have a strong day, but it was my mistake on the second stage, running wide and hitting the tree and taking the rear-left wheel off it. 'This weekend shows you that you need to have a good start to these rallies, especially if you are running further down the field. We knew that Sardinia would be a tough rally but, in actual fact, it turned out to be brutal.' Rally Sardinia was awash with drama that continued up until the closing Power Stage when an overshoot for leader and eventual winner Sebastien Ogier (Toyota Gazoo Racing) slashed his buffer over runner-up Ott Tanak (Hyundai Motorsport). The Frenchman held on to make it two victories on the bounce following his success at May's Rally de Portugal.
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Spike Island to host Red Bull Drift Pursuit this summer
Cork's iconic Spike Island will play host to one of the biggest days in the Irish motorsport calendar this year when Red Bull Drift Pursuit takes over the former military base on Saturday July 5th. With prison walls as their backdrop, 16 of the country's top drifters will go head-to-head in a fierce 1 v 1 knockout format which promises to exhilarate seasoned drift fans and newcomers alike. This is no ordinary drift event - it will test the accuracy, control and speed of each and every driver on the track, pushing them to their absolute max. Drivers are judged on two key criteria; course time and clipping points, with penalties for any infringements. Emerging talent from the Irish drift scene will be rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in motorsport in Red Bull athletes Conor Shanahan and Josh McErlean. 9 DRFIT KING: Red Bull drifter Conor Shanahan will once again compete in Drift Pursuit Credit: RED BULL 9 ICONIC SETTING: Red Bull Drift Pursuit will take place on Cork's Spike Island Credit: RED BULL 9 WRC STAR: M-Sport Ford World Rally Championship driver Josh McErlean will be bringing his Puma Rally1 car to Cork Credit: RED BULL Both drivers will perform on the day, alongside Conor's brother Jack, delivering explosive demos that blend the rally power of Josh's M-Sport World Rally Ford Puma with the drifting precision of Conor's Toyota GT86 in a one-of-a-kind, gearbox-shredding display. The event kicks off at 6.45pm, finishing at 8.30pm. Tickets are on sale now on the Red Bull website, priced at €45 for a standing ticket and €55 for a seated ticket. Ferry transfers from Ringaskiddy or Cobh are included in the ticket, with ferries running throughout the day. On the announcement, Cork drifter and Red Bull athlete Conor Shanahan said: 'As a proud Corkman, it is incredible to see a drift event like this take place at such an iconic location like Spike Island. Some of the best drifters in Ireland will be competing, and I know Jack and I are looking forward to putting on a show.' 9 ISLAND BOYS: Cork natives Jack and Conor Shanahan will both be competing and taking part in a Q&A session before the events blasts off at 6:45pm Credit: RED BULL 9 IN A SPIN: Action from Red Bull Drift Pursuit in Limerick last May Credit: RED BULL 9 RAGING BULLS: Conor Shanahan competing at fthe Drift Masters European Championship Credit: RED BULL Before the action kicks off, spectators can avail of Spike Island tours to learn more about the island's rich history as a naval base and more recently as a prison. Drift Masters Conor and Jack Shanahan will be doing a Q&A alongside WRC star Josh McErlean, while the drivers' paddock will also be open to spectators keen to get a closer look at the action. There are four Cork drivers among those set to compete at Red Bull Drift Pursuit, with Aidan Dennehy, Owen Magner, Trevor Healy and Alan Hynes, the 2024 Red Bull Drift Pursuit champion, all sure to benefit from a vocal local support. Most read in Motors 9 2024 DRIFT PURSUIT CHAMP: Alan Hynes seen at the Red Bull Drift Pursuit in Limerick Credit: RED BULL 2025 grid competing in Red Bull Drift Pursuit DRIVERS LINE-UP Stephen Halferty (Derry) Aidan Dennehy (Cork) Alex Butler (Louth) Owen Magner (Cork) Colin O'Sullivan (Kerry) Trevor Healy (Cork) Jack Caldwell (Tyrone) Alan Hynes (Cork) *2024 RBDP Champ Davan Leahy (Waterford) Jake Davey (Galway) Sean Carson (Tyrone) Jakub Krzyszczak (Waterford) Harry Kerr (Antrim) Tom Hayden (Kildare) Erikas Navickas (Kildare) Alan O'Loghlen (Galway) Peter Molloy (Down) Craig Searles (Limerick) An unforgettable evening of speed and skill in the historic surroundings of Spike Island awaits. To keep up to date with all things Red Bull Drift Pursuit, follow @redbullire on Instagram and TikTok or visit : What is Red Bull Drift Pursuit? Red Bull Drift Pursuit is a unique 1v1 drift battle competition, which will take place this year on Spike Island, Co. Cork. This is the competition's second year, having made its debut at Limerick Greyhound Stadium in 2024. Getting to Spike Island The only way to get to Spike Island for the event is by ferry. The ferry transfer to Spike Island is included in your ticket. Ferries will depart from Cobh and Ringaskiddy piers. Departure/Return time and location are selected at point of purchase. No other means of travel to Spike Island for the event will be permitted. 9 ACTION PACKED: Competitors seen at the Red Bull Drift Pursuit in Limerick Credit: RED BULL TICKET SALES: Both standing and seated tickets are available and return ferry is included in the ticket price. Tickets are priced €55 (seated) and €45 (standing) including booking fees. Tickets are on sale now via: Ferry information: There are two options for your ferry transfer. 1: The Ringaskiddy ferry will depart from Paddy's Point, 2: The Cobh ferry will depart from Kennedy Pier, There will be car parking options at both ferry departure points. Please arrive at the pier 10-15 minutes before your ferry/ticket booking. Passengers must be on time for their booked time slot/ferry departure. Due to limited capacity, no alternative ferry departure will be offered. Passengers cannot leave the island before their designated return ferry. No changes can be made to ferry departure points or times after purchase. Children: Red Bull Drift Pursuit is suitable for all age groups. Children of all ages will require a standard seating or standing ticket. Please note that this is an outdoor motorsports event with some walking between the ferry and event site, so please dress appropriately, expect loud noises and bring relevant ear protection, particularly for children. Accesibility: The event is wheelchair friendly. Activity on Spike Island: Guided tours of Spike Island are included with the ticket and are available throughout the day, or you can explore the prison without a guide. There will be food and drink outlets on site with picnic tables; picnic and picnic blankets are welcome and visitors can bring their own picnics or snacks to the island to eat. Read more on the Irish Sun Alcohol and glassware/glass bottles of any sort are not permitted to be brought to the event. There will be alcohol on sale in the Spike Island café. Drones are not permitted to be used at the event. More information, including the event map and schedule of events can be found on the Red Bull website at: 9 LE THE GAMES BEGIN: Red Bull Drift Pursuit will get underway on July 5 Credit: RED BULL
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.
