Josh McErlean, a 25-year-old Irish rally driver, will be making his move to the World Rally Championship's top tier in 2025. He believes now is the best time to transition due to upcoming regulation changes, including the removal of hybrid power from Rally1 cars.
M-Sport -Ford new signing Josh McErlean believes 2025 is the best time since the Rally1 era began to make the leap to the World Rally Championship's top tier. McErlean is gearing up to make the jump from WRC 2 to the top class this season after a somewhat surprise ascension to a full-time seat at M-Sport following Adrien Fourmaux's move to Hyundai.
The 25-year-old Irishman is under no illusions regarding the challenges of adjusting to competing against the WRC's elite in a Rally1 car in what he has described as a 'dream' move in his rallying career to date. However, he feels now is as good a time as any to make the transition with the WRC set to undergo two significant regulation changes this year. This season crews will have to adjust to driving Rally1 cars without hybrid power and adjust to an all-new control tyre from Hankook, that few drivers have tested extensively. 'There is a lot of learning to do, there is no doubt about that. I'm being realistic, it is a massive challenge for me personally,' McErlean told Motorsport.com. 'It is about trying to keep the basics simple, after all, it is still a rally car. Talking to the team now it seems as though it is a big Rally2 car or a Rally2 car on steroids. Joshua McErlean, James Fulton, Toksport WRT 2 Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2 Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool 'There is no doubt the team can help a lot and they are known for developing young drivers. We have been to the factory twice now and I'm trying to get bedded in as quickly as possible. '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 about 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 a bit more simple without hybri
WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP WRC M-SPORT RALLY1 JOSH MCERLEAN
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