New kid on the block - the WRC education with rising star Josh McErlean

The first four rounds in the FIA World Rally Championship brings a baptism of fire - four very unique stand alone events. The classic Monte Carlo on the mixed dry and icy mountain roads, Rally Sweden the only snow rally, the tough and brutal Safari adventure and race track like campaign in the Canaries. Imagine doing all of those in a top-flight Rally1 category car for the first time. M-Sport Ford WRC star Josh McErlean is four rounds into his top-fight career - DAZN News caught up with the Irishman in an open conversation ahead of Rally Portugal this week.

Josh McErlean is a relatively new name in the world rallying scene. The former Junior British Champion has been competing in the WRC2 feeder category for the last few years under the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy banner, and like most drivers with aspirations of the top, the winter and end of season period can be a lonely, fraught and challenging time in the search for drives, backers, finance and the odd miracle - all needing to align for the following year.   

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“We did Rally Japan at the end of 2024 and put in a good performance but it was the end of the season and we had no plan in place and no knowing what was next,” picks up McErlean. “We were in constant discussion with John Coyne, the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy founder at the event, but nothing was concrete when we were there. I left Japan and got home Tuesday, a few days later John rang up and asked me if I could join a Zoom call on Saturday. I was like ‘yeh of course, ok.’ wondering if it was any news - I thought there might be a different direction with the tone in his voice. My co-driver James Fulton at the time was due to join another driver, so days after Japan, I had no co-driver and no programme, so a lot was racing through my head. 

“John on the video call said he managed to strike a deal with M-Sport for 14 rounds. I thought, great, a WRC2 programme with them will be brilliant… then there was a pause. Then he uttered the words ‘in a Puma Rally1 car’ - which got the heart pumping! It was a huge shock - I wasn’t expecting that and didn’t know what to do with myself, as until the official announcement I could tell nobody except my parents. We don’t have an abundance of money and as a family we have always put in what we could, when we could from when I was 14-15 doing Junior 1000 rallying - so it was extra special for my Mum and Dad when I told them the news!”

From that life changing phone call - the deal was signed and about to be delivered. It was to be a race against time for the 25-year-old from Kilrea. It was just a month away from the build-up to the start of the 2025 season. The Monte Carlo awaited.

“From that call it was a whirlwind, there was plenty to do as I had to join up with Eoin Treacy, my new co-driver, meet the M-Sport team, learn the technical side to the car and how the team operates. One of the most surreal moments was going through the fabled doors and factory at M-Sport at Dovenby Hall in Cumbria, where so many greats have been before me. It was mind blowing!”

The Northern Irishman had to learn and grow-up fast. Now at the WRC top table, a lot was to be expected, as he was the new hot topic in the media and was within minutes of the announcement instantly brought to the attention of millions of rallying fans worldwide - as he was to be put on the table for debate online. A position the young-gun handled with alacrity and class.

“That was probably the thing I learnt the quickest - the spotlight you get put under - it’s a big step -up from WRC2 where you kind of go under the radar. There are only a dozen or so top seats and everyone has an opinion regarding who should be in them. Social media can be a very positive space connecting with the fans, but also quite a negative one as well - people saying it was too early, I shouldn't be there and all the rest of it. Everyone can have their say, but what was I going to do? Not grab a lifelong dream, and chance at the top because of online comments? It did get to me a little, but now I tend to focus on the driving and let people into what it is like to have to perform at the very top, and if people don’t want to follow - that’s ok. There’s a job to do and I need to focus on that.”

January 2025 - lining up for one of the biggest motorsport events in the world. The moment was here -  the Monte Carlo. A new season was upon Josh. 

“It hit home in Casino Square in Monaco when I stood next to Sébastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville and Kalle Rovanperä. There were 11 world titles between us” smirked McErlean. The Ford driver had arrived at the big time - shoulder to shoulder with the recent greats. 

“There was a big task at hand - it was a long - four-day rally and we don’t get many miles testing in the car due to championship regulations, so every stage and every mile was important. I left Casino Square and wanted to return to Monaco four days later with no scratch on the car.

“You get used to the nerves and being able to handle them and I have got used to them over the years, but leaving Casino Square, I felt the butterflies again - it felt like a new day at school and feelings I hadn’t felt since the start of my career. I think that played a part - we completed every stage and built the pace, but I know it wasn’t anywhere near the speed we wanted to hit - but with the pressure and magnitude of the occasion, the media spotlight, learning the car - I was just pleased with the weekend and to bring home a top seven and points was a nice bonus.”

Rally Sweden, the Safari and the Canaries showed glimpses of why McErlean is in the M-Sport fold, with brilliant pace aboard the Puma. It was always going to be a steep, steep mountain to climb on four of the toughest events on the calendar, but next up is Portugal which holds a special place in the heart of the Irish driver.

“I think I have competed here more than I have in Ireland! I have done a few events there over the years, and the stages this year are 90% the same as 2024. The rally is something else and it's the event at the start of the year I was most looking forward to. The fans are passionate, I finished second in WRC2 last year and took a first stage win there - so lots of great memories and good feeling already about going back there as you are always made to feel so welcome.”

We move into the European season in the WRC now, with a string of events all familiar with the M-Sport pilot. The expectation goes up a notch - and that’s just from McErlean himself.

“Each rally has its own set of targets set by the team and by me personally. Mileage is the most important thing and you don’t get them by being in a ditch or wrapped around a tree. I expect to be a bit quicker in these next events and closing the gap to the guys at the very front. Your first target is always your teammates and the performance against them, so we will be looking to match them more consistently and try to be in front of them if we can.” 

We asked Josh at the start of this to be as open and frank as possible, we left the hardest question until last. Scoring himself out of ten - what would he give and why? We bring the big questions at DAZN!

“That’s a tough one. I would say a six out of ten I think. Yeh I will go with that. I knew it was going to be a difficult first four events. I had only done one of them so there was a lot of learning to do. I drove well at times, I made some mistakes, and there were things outside of my control.  I had to write new pacenotes and that can unnerve you a little as you don’t have full, complete trust in those notes the first time you use them - not at these speeds - so you are also that bit more cautious. It will be good to go to events where I have a set of notes already, I know the event characteristics, where the city is, where we stay, my bearings, where I need to go - familiarity really helps you settle down before a rally and we look forward to that with the events coming up.”

We look forward to seeing how Josh gets on in Portugal this weekend. You can follow his progress and all the action LIVE this weekend between the 15-18 May.

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