McErlean chases crucial points in Croatia
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean will resume his FIA World Rally Championship campaign next week as Rally Croatia [9-12 April] marks the first of two back-to-back European asphalt events in the series.
Returning to the calendar after just one year away, Rally Croatia has undergone a total overhaul, with the event moving to Rijeka to open up a brand new route which offers a sizeable contrast between the high-grip wide coastal roads and technical mountain passes.
Not that it would concern McErlean however, as Rally Croatia marks the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver’s first trip to the country, meaning every stage will be a new feature for the Irishman.
“It’s looking like a very interesting rally from what we have seen so far and having a new route will certainly level the playing field a little for everyone”, says McErlean.
“Having two tar events on the bounce is also a nice thing to have as it means you can really find your balance, rather than adapting to different surfaces, and I'm looking forward to the first full asphalt test of the year”.
McErlean’s second season on the WRC top-flight has been challenging, with a non-finish at both Rallye Monte Carlo and Safari Rally. But the results on paper do not show the full picture, with an improving pace over the course of the season showing his experience gathered in 2025 coming to the fore.
Along with co-driver Eoin Treacy, his approach to Rally Croatia focuses on the work he and the M-Sport team have been doing in preparation for the event, with the target of a solid finish under his belt a number one priority.
“We have been working very hard to get a nice feeling on tarmac underneath us, and that’s a really important factor on these types of events”, he continues.
“On the gravel, to a degree, you have some flexibility, but not on the fast tar events, so we have been really drilling down on getting that right and executing everything properly”.
“What’s done is done this season. I can’t change it, but I can learn from it. And getting the absolute basics right will mean that the pace we are looking for will come along more easily".
“Croatia is a technical rally, and so it needs those basics to be nailed. We have been looking at last year’s asphalt speed, and I feel we have made a step forward from that. We now must combine it all and ensure we get a solid weekend under our belts”.
After Shakedown and the ceremonial start on Thursday [9 April], Rally Croatia packs 300 competitive kilometres into just three days, with Friday’s opening leg the longest at over 126km.
