Following a punishing weekend at Rally Italia Sardegna, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean is now gearing up for another tough instalment of his debut FIA World Rally Championship Rally1 campaign, the legendary EKO Acropolis Rally (26-29 June).
Widely known as the “Rally of Gods,” the Greek round of the WRC is, like Sardinia, considered one of the most unforgiving events on the calendar, combining searing heat, high-altitude gravel tracks, and tyre-shredding surfaces, along with the mental and physical test of long competitive legs. For McErlean, it marks a continuation of his top-flight rally education in the M-Sport Ford Puma.
“Acropolis is one of the true classics of the sport,” said McErlean. “There’s a real sense of history to it; the roads, the challenge, and the spectacle of starting under the Acropolis monument in Athens. But it’s also one of the toughest events out there, so our mindset is all about discipline, learning, and managing the rally in the right way.”
The rally begins with a ceremonial start beneath the iconic Parthenon before launching into 17 punishing stages covering 345 kilometres and the route dives into the brutal mountains north of the capital, where jagged rocks and steep climbs test both cars and crews to the limit.
McErlean returns to action in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 alongside co-driver Eoin Treacy, with the aim of building on previous outings. In Sardinia, the pair recovered from an early retirement to gain vital experience in road cleaning across two full days, but the goal in Greece remains much the same.
“This year is all about growth,” McErlean explained.
“Sardinia was unfortunate for us, but at the same time, we were able to gain so much valuable information for the future, and this season is all about building the full toolkit. It’s another rally where survival matters. The roads are so abrasive, the temperatures inside the car can hit 50°C, and you’ve got long loops with no mid-day service. You’ve got to be smart, and even Sunday’s final leg is longer than usual, so the rally keeps throwing challenges right to the finish”
While McErlean isn’t setting specific result targets for the weekend, the focus remains firmly on building for the future, with each kilometre logged in the Puma Rally1 car representing another step forward in his ongoing development at the highest level.
“Everything we learn here helps us grow stronger for what lies ahead,” McErlean concluded. “The team at 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.”
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.
is now gearing up for another tough instalment of his debut FIA World Rally Championship Rally1 campaign, the legendary EKO Acropolis Rally (26-29 June).
Widely known as the “Rally of Gods,” the Greek round of the WRC is, like Sardinia, considered one of the most unforgiving events on the calendar, combining searing heat, high-altitude gravel tracks, and tyre-shredding surfaces, along with the mental and physical test of long competitive legs. For McErlean, it marks a continuation of his top-flight rally education in the M-Sport Ford Puma.
“Acropolis is one of the true classics of the sport,” said McErlean. “There’s a real sense of history to it; the roads, the challenge, and the spectacle of starting under the Acropolis monument in Athens. But it’s also one of the toughest events out there, so our mindset is all about discipline, learning, and managing the rally in the right way.”
The rally begins with a ceremonial start beneath the iconic Parthenon before launching into 17 punishing stages covering 345 kilometres and the route dives into the brutal mountains north of the capital, where jagged rocks and steep climbs test both cars and crews to the limit.
McErlean returns to action in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 alongside co-driver Eoin Treacy, with the aim of building on previous outings. In Sardinia, the pair recovered from an early retirement to gain vital experience in road cleaning across two full days, but the goal in Greece remains much the same.
“This year is all about growth,” McErlean explained. “Sardinia was unfortunate for us, but at the same time, we were able to gain so much valuable information for the future, and this season is all about building the full toolkit. It’s another rally where survival matters. The roads are so abrasive, the temperatures inside the car can hit 50°C, and you’ve got long loops with no mid-day service. You’ve got to be smart, and even Sunday’s final leg is longer than usual, so the rally keeps throwing challenges right to the finish”
While McErlean isn’t setting specific result targets for the weekend, the focus remains firmly on building for the future, with each kilometre logged in the Puma Rally1 car representing another step forward in his ongoing development at the highest level.
“Everything we learn here helps us grow stronger for what lies ahead,” McErlean concluded. “The team at 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.”
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.
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