McErlean and Kelly set for Acropolis Rally scorcher

Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy will take on their seventh World Rally Championship event of the year on this week’s Acropolis Rally. Renowned for its tough gravel stages, Greece’s WRC classic will be even more demanding with temperatures set to rise above 35°C.

The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew form part of a four-car strong M-Sport Ford entry. McErlean enjoyed a close battle with Ford Puma Rally1 team-mate Gregoire Munster on Rally Sardinia earlier this month, gaining experience running first on the road on the dusty, loose-surface stages.

The 25-year-old has only competed on the Acropolis Rally once before, although last year’s event was one of McErlean’s stand-out results. Driving a Skoda Fabia Rally2, McErlean secured a ninth-place finish overall on the rocky WRC event.

As much as McErlean and Treacy would love another top result this time around, they are well aware that their goal this year is to soak up as much information as possible on one of WRC’s legendary rallies.

“Heading into the Acropolis Rally, the focus is on a clean and consistent performance,” said McErlean. “It is no secret this event is one of the demanding ones on the calendar - the heat, the rough stages.

“After the disappointment in Sardinia, I really want to deliver a solid result for the team. They’ve worked incredibly hard, and they deserve something to show for it.

“Everything we learn here helps us grow stronger for what lies ahead. M-Sport and the MI Rally Academy have been fantastic in giving us the tools and support, and we’ll aim to make the most of every stage and secure a solid finish.

“The Acropolis is a rally that can teach you a lot, and we’re ready to take it on.”

Fellow Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy athletes Eamonn Kelly and Conor Mohan head to the Acropolis Rally fourth in Junior WRC after its opening two rounds. The Donegal driver was as high as second on last month’s Rally Portugal before punctures blighted his hopes of doubling his tally of Junior WRC podiums this year.

The Ford Fiesta Rally3 duo return to Greece with happy memories from their last visit two years ago. Kelly and Mohan finished second out of the Junior WRC contenders on the 2023 Acropolis Rally after a mature drive in their rookie season competing outside Ireland and the UK.

Photo- Eamonn Kelly, John Coyne & Conor Mohan

Nine Junior WRC crews will vie for Rally3 honours on the 17-stage event.

Aaron Johnston will hope to continue his string of top-five WRC results alongside Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta. The Toyota Yaris Rally1 crew is sixth in the WRC standings, bringing plenty of optimism to Greece after a strong end to Rally Sardinia and a positive pre-event test.

In WRC2, James Fulton and Yuki Yamamoto will continue to build their gravel experience in their Toyota Yaris Rally2. They were happy with how their speed developed during an intense Rally Sardinia and will hope for a similar return in Greece.

Ireland’s WRC hopefuls will tackle close to 350 stage kilometres between Corinth, Lamia, and Amfissa. The Greek classic starts on Thursday evening with a super-special opposite Athens’ Panathenaic Stadium, the home of the modern Olympic games.

Friday morning kicks off with the longest stage of the rally, Aghii Theodori, at 07:28 local time ahead of a long day which ends with Elatia at 19:31.

Six stages make up Saturday’s itinerary before Sunday’s decisive four tests featuring a 23.4-kilometre Tarzan Power Stage.