How the WRC’s latest debutant plans to capitalise on surprise drive

Being among the World Rally Championship’s top flight, traversing the start ramp in Monte Carlo’s glitzy Casino Square in front of thousands of fans, is the stuff of dreams for any rally driver. Next week the WRC’s latest top class debutant Josh McErlean will turn that into a reality after a whirlwind off-season that has resulted in the Irishman landing a dream full-time Rally1 opportunity with M-Sport-Ford – a drive even he thought was out of reach.

“It is incredible, a dream come true for me,” McErlean tells Motorsport.com. “It has always been a dream to be in one of these cars. I said last year if I got one chance in a Rally1 car, it would be a big tick box [moment]. Even this time last year, I would have honestly laughed in your face [if you told me this would happen].

“It is exciting times and you have to be grateful as we are one of 10 drivers in the world to be in this position heading into Monte Carlo, so let’s make the most of it. Hopefully I will be in this position next year.”

The ‘pinch me’ moments will likely continue at the ceremonial start and when driving through the pyrotechnic firework spectacular backdrop produced by the rally fans that flock to Thursday night’s mountain stages. Despite what must be an overwhelming time to be McErlean right now, the 25-year-old isn’t getting caught up in the moment and is already focused on the future.

McErlean’s leap to Rally1 has come earlier than anyone possibly anticipated but there have been flashes of potential during a breakout 2024 season in WRC2, most notably a podium finish in Portugal. In fact, the first glimpses can be traced a decade ago when a young McErlean won the Junior 1000 Rally Challenge in Ireland. 

After gaining early experience in Ford machinery with a Fiesta R2T in the British Rally Championship in 2017 and 2018, McErlean went on to claim the Great Britain Junior title in 2019, along with the Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award as young Irish rally driver of the year. It was in 2021 that he stepped up to Rally2 machinery, before making a WRC2 debut in 2022, but all of this must seem a far cry to what awaits this year – a shot of the big time alongside the WRC’s elite.

While the talent and potential is clearly evident throughout McErlean’s junior career, talent alone is often not enough to progress up the ranks in any motorsport discipline where funding is crucial. McErlean’s meteoric rise to Rally1 wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the impressive Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, backed by a passionate former rally driver John Coyne. But it is not merely a “golden ticket”, according to McErlean.    

“The whole process travelled quite fast,” he adds. “I didn’t know much about it before Rally Japan last year. I knew there was potential for some Rally1 outings in 2025, but never could I have even imagined a full season in Rally1. It was down to the commitment and the drive and passion from John Coyne for pulling it all together and M-Sport and their partners for their trust. 

“There is no doubt the man has passion and drive for Ireland as whole, which is incredible. He obviously helped me in these last four or five years coming up through the ranks, not only financial support but his ability to manage people to pull strings and pull everything together.

“It is about trying to keep the basics simple. After all it is still a rally car” 
Josh McErlean

“Having the relationship with him and trusting him has definitely paid off. He is the driving force behind us, but it is not like he is handing me a golden ticket as such. He wants to see it work and wants to make it happen. He is a financially well-off guy, but he knows what it takes to go far in this sport and he knows it is a cut throat environment.

“It is also nice for Ireland to be back [in the WRC] after what happened with Craig [Breen, who died in 2023]. It is fitting that there is two Irish flags back in the world championship and again I want to promote Ireland as much as possible. We want to have fun and the WRC needs some humour and banter at stage ends, so hopefully we can deliver.” 

Having worked his way through the junior categories, McErlean has now arrived at the pinnacle of rallying to pilot a M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 against the best in the world on 14 events featuring the toughest stages going. With plenty to get used to, McErlean admits it will be “a massive challenge for me”.

But luckily for McErlean, M-Sport is well versed in turning young drivers into gems. Just look at the likes of 2019 world champion Ott Tanak, Toyota’s four-time WRC title runner-up Elfyn Evans and now new Hyundai signing Adrien Fourmaux, who have all come through M-Sport’s finishing school. And it appears McErlean has plenty fighting in his corner to help make the leap, including five-time WRC rally winner Kris Meeke.

Kilkenny-born Breen, who made his WRC debut in 2009, died after a crash during testing for the 2023 Croatia Rally

Photo by: M-Sport

One added bonus for McErlean is the fact this year offers perhaps a more level playing field for rookies than previous seasons, as all Rally1 crews adapt to new technical rules headlined by the removal of hybrid power and all new control tyres supplied by Hankook.   

“It is about trying to keep the basics simple,” says McErlean. “After all it is still a rally car. There is no doubt the team can help a lot and they are known for developing young drivers and making them comfortable.

“The most important thing is to keep the process simple and don’t get carried away with all the information and car set-up. It is more trying to get used to the car and the team. There is a lot to get used to with the aerodynamics and the power.

“Okay, it is bit more simple without hybrid, and here are new tyres as well, but we don’t know what the Pirelli was like with this car so there is no comparisons from our side. Maybe it is the most simple year from the past few years to jump into Rally1 without hybrid and change of tyres.

“Adrien is a prime example of what a young driver can do in this team. He led the team last year and it is the same people within the team and more or less the same car.

“There is many people that offer advice and I really appreciate everyone’s help. Again Rich [Millener, M-Sport team principal] and the team have seen this many times in the past, they’ve been in this position. 

“Kris Meeke actually sent me a message when the news came out which was quite cool for him to relate to the pressure cooker and managing that. We have good contacts to go in with but again trusting the team and trusting the process is the most important and going in with level head.”

There is no hiding away from the fact McErlean faces a hurclean task this year, but he will walk into an environment where expectations are realistic and there is no pressure for results. It will just be a concoction that allows McErlean to not only thrive but surprise.     

Fourmaux finished a career-best of fifth for M-Sport in the 2024 WRC standings, before being poached by Hyundai who clinched the drivers’ title with Thierry Neuville

Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images

“I think everyone is on the page coming into this year,” he adds. “There is no pressure for a result going into Monte Carlo, or a performance as such. A lot of the people outside are not expecting much which I think we can use to our advantage.

“I don’t know what to expect in terms of other people’s pace, but I know it is top level and I don’t know how close we are to that. There are a lot of things to get used to with the car throughout the year, but we want to progress.

“I think the main objective is to be in this position this time next year and have another go, because in these things it is all about experience. The first year is all about learning.”

What will McErlean achieve during his debut season of Rally1 machinery?

Photo by: M-Sport