McErlean ‘feeling ready’ for Rally Islas Canarias

Despite being his debut season in the Rally1 top-flight, the Irishman is fresh from strong performances on three of the most specialised events on the calendar, the unpredictable Rallye Monte Carlo, the icy tests of Rally Sweden and the brutal endurance of Safari Rally Kenya. The 25-year-old from Kilrea now turns his attention to the lightning-fast and highly technical tarmac of the Canary Islands. With a smoother surface and more consistent grip levels than his previous rallies, this round offers McErlean his first real opportunity to sample the Puma Rally1 on a more conventional surface.

“It’s probably the first rally this season where we can have a little bit of predictability in terms of what we will face,” said McErlean ahead of the event. “Monte, Sweden, and Safari are all very unique. This is the first time we get a ‘clean’ surface and some consistency in grip. Like any event in the calendar, it has a route where experience still counts, but it will really highlight commitment and confidence. It’s an exciting next step.”

McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy have already impressed in their first full Rally1 season. A composed and calculated debut at Rallye Monte Carlo netted them seventh overall, before they battled snowbanks in Sweden and endured the chaos of Kenya — all while consistently building pace and learning the nuances of top-level machinery. While the Canaries will be new territory in the Puma, McErlean is no stranger to asphalt. His junior career included strong showings on sealed-surface events, and his precise, analytical driving style is expected to translate well to the flowing, cambered roads that define the island route.

“This will be all about carrying speed through corners, finding that rhythm, and committing early. Monte Carlo gave me my first taste of what a Rally1 car can do on a sealed surface, but Rally Islas Canarias is different; it’s full on, proper, smooth tarmac. The goal this weekend is to build on what I learned there, really trusting the aero, the downforce and grip these cars can create. These roads demand precision and commitment, and I’m excited for that.

“Of course, it’s still a WRC round, nothing is ever easy. But we’re feeling ready for this one.”

This year’s Rally Islas Canarias marks the first time the event features on the WRC calendar, bringing its sweeping mountain passes and tight technical sections to a global audience. With a compact three-day format, staying out of trouble will be key, and any mistakes could prove costly.

The event begins with Shakedown on Thursday (24 April), followed by three flat-out days of competition across the island’s dramatic tarmac roads, with over 300km of special stages before the finish on Sunday afternoon.

McErlean is backed by Woodland NI, Admore Air Conditioning, SDC Trailers, Hutchinson Engineering, McCormack Contracting Inc, Fastener Connections, Shamrock Building Systems and EC Framing Inc.