McErlean and Treacy set for Rally Chile debut, completing WRC’s South American leg

Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy will take on their eleventh World Rally Championship event of the year on this week's Rally Chile.

Renowned for its fast and flowing gravel stages through forests and plantations, Chile's unique event will complete the South American leg of the calendar as the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 duo looks to build on their progress so far.

McErlean showed strong pace on Rally Paraguay last month before damage from a heavy compression spoiled his hopes of a strong result on his South American debut, leaving him determined to showcase the potential he has demonstrated throughout the season.

The 26-year-old faces another new challenge on Chile's incredible roads, representing an opportunity to pull everything together and build momentum as he continues his Rally1 development.

“It is great to be going to Chile for the next stop in our South American adventure,” said McErlean.

“The itinerary is the exact same as last year’s event, so we know what to expect in terms of format, but as it’s our first time here we’ll be writing completely fresh pacenotes. That’s a challenge, but it’s also exciting – we’ll do our homework and be fully prepared. The stages look incredible, fast and flowing but very technical, and it’s a stunning part of the world to be competing in.

“This season we’ve shown some really strong speed, even leading the M-Sport crews on a few rallies, so the potential is there. Now it’s about pulling everything together, keeping it clean, and building momentum. Chile is a rally where confidence and rhythm are everything, and I’m looking forward to testing myself on these incredible roads.”

County Tyrone's Aaron Johnston will hope to bounce back from a trying Rally Paraguay alongside Japan's Takamoto Katsuta. The Toyota Yaris Rally1 crew showed promising pace with a couple of top-three stage times on the opening day, but ultimately punctures and moments ruined their hopes of a result. They will be determined to recapture the form that delivered a runner-up finish on Rally Finland.

Rally Chile begins with shakedown on Thursday morning before the ceremonial start in Concepcion. The first stage kicks off on Friday morning, with six tests each on Friday and Saturday before two passes of Laraquete and BioBio complete Sunday's action.

Back home in Ireland, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crews will tackle the 53rd Wexford Stages Rally across 18 stages on Saturday and Sunday.

MI Rally Academy co-driver Killian McArdle continues his season with Joseph Kelly as they make their Toyota Yaris Rally2 debut this weekend, with the Junior BRC contenders swapping their usual Peugeot 208 Rally4 for the more powerful four-wheel-drive car.

Craig Rahill and Conor Smith arrive as top seeds in Rally4, using the Wexford event to prepare for the final Junior ERC round after securing a breakthrough Junior ERC victory on Barum Czech Rally Zlin.

“I am looking forward to the Wexford Stages Rally this weekend,” said the 2024 Billy Coleman Award winner. “Over 200 competitive stage kilometres lie ahead, which will be good to keep us sharp for Croatia’s final round of the ERC in 3 weeks' time.

“We are back in our Peugeot this weekend, and we are hoping for a good race against everyone.

“It is looking like it will be very wet, so it will be our first time running Hankook’s wet tyres. It will be interesting to get a bit of mileage on them.”

Academy team-mates Keelan Grogan and Darragh Mullen will start one car behind in their Peugeot 208 Rally4, with Mullen stepping in for Grogan's usual co-driver Ayrton Sherlock.

“It is nice to be back competing at home again for the first time since May,” said Grogan. “Wexford will give us a great opportunity to keep sharp before our last Junior ERC round in Croatia with two days and 18 stages to get through.

“It could give us a chance to experiment different Hankook tyre compounds in wetter conditions, which could be beneficial for us in Croatia.

“Unfortunately, Ayrton [Sherlock] isn’t able to take part in this one but I am glad to have Darragh Mullen stepping in in his place.”