Josh McErlean: Irish rally star starts in the WRC for M-Sport!

Josh McErlean: Irish rally star starts in the WRC for M-Sport!

25-year-old Irishman Josh McErlean has signed an exciting deal with M-Sport Ford, taking him into the top class of the World Rally Championship for the 2025 season. McErlean will contest all 14 WRC rounds alongside Grégoire Munster as his teammate and enthuses: "Driving the Ford Puma Rally1 in the World Rally Championship is a dream come true. I have always aspired to drive at the highest level of motorsport and now that opportunity is becoming a reality" (Speedweek). This season he finished WRC2 with an impressive second place at the Rally in Portugal before moving up to Rally1. This is particularly notable since he had no previous experience with a Rally1 car.

Next season, McErlean, who continues to receive support from the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, is not alone. Eoin Treacy will act as his new co-driver after his previous co-driver James Fulton moved to the Toyota Challenge program. M-Sport team boss Richard Millener emphasizes that expectations for McErlean should remain realistic, but at the same time he emphasizes the importance of investing in young talent: "We must continue to invest in new and emerging talent in the WRC. I'm proud that we can now give two more guys the chance to do so" (Motorsport.com). These commitments are part of the strategy to take the potential of young drivers to the next level.

McErlean's future in the WRC

McErlean's first appearance in Rally1 will be at the Monte Carlo Rally from January 23rd to 26th, 2025, where he can finally show what he's made of. The challenge of a full season is significant, but the support of his family, fans and team gives him the support he needs. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel,” concluded McErlean excitedly (Speedweek). With his arrival in the rally circus, the young Irishman is ready to take the next big step in his career and shake up the rally field.