Portugal provides the next chapter of McErlean’s WRC season

After continuing his learning experience of top-flight Rally1 machinery on the asphalt of Rally Islas Canarias, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean now sets his sights on far more familiar territory as the FIA World Rally Championship heads to Vodafone Rally de Portugal (15-18 May), the first of a long stretch of gravel events.

It’s a rally that holds special significance for the 25-year-old from Kilrea. In 2024, McErlean delivered a career-best performance in Portugal, finishing second in WRC2 after a dramatic final-stage showdown. Now, one year on, he returns with a new challenge – tackling the iconic gravel roads in the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, as he continues his top-tier debut campaign.

“It feels incredible to be heading back to Rally Portugal,” McErlean said ahead of the event.

“This rally means a lot to me. We had such an amazing result here last year, and I’ve been itching to return ever since. This time, doing it in a Rally1 car just makes it even more exciting. It’s the start of the gravel season, and there’s nowhere better to kick it off. The fans, the atmosphere, the stages, Portugal has everything. It’s mega.”

McErlean’s early career in the Rally1 class has shown steady progress, with strong performances on some of the championship’s most difficult events, Monte Carlo, Sweden, and Safari Kenya, before facing the ultra-precise asphalt of the Canary Islands. Though a final-day mistake ended his run there, his pace and commitment continued to build throughout the weekend.

Now, with the benefit of past experience in Portugal and a return to his preferred surface, McErlean is aiming to take another step forward in confidence and performance. The fast, flowing gravel stages of Portugal will offer a new test of car control, rhythm, and strategy, but also the chance to feel at home again behind the wheel.

“Whilst I've done a few events over the years in Portugal, they are all in stark contrast to travelling over the stages in a Rally1 Puma”, he continues.

“Our game plan will be, like any other event so far this season, to progress as much as possible during the weekend. The margins are tiny and there is zero room for error in Portugal, so we need to think strategically and take it day by day. Our expectations remain realistic, we are still learning with every kilometre in the car, but it’s safe to say I’ve been looking forward to this one”.

As the championship enters this crucial gravel phase, McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy are focused on continuing their development at the highest level, using every stage to extract more from the car and themselves.

With passionate crowds, classic stages like Fafe, and unpredictable conditions always on the cards, Rally Portugal promises to be another action-packed chapter in McErlean’s promising Rally1 journey. The action gets underway on Thursday [15 May] with a short Super Special Stage before three full days of competitive driving, totalling around 340 kilometres.