Josh McErlean Anticipates "Special Feeling" at Rally Finland in WRC Debut Season
Northern Ireland's Josh McErlean looks forward to competing at Rally Finland, one of the World Rally Championship's most prestigious events, aiming to build on his recent strong performance in Estonia.
Josh McErlean describes Rally Finland as a "special feeling" opportunity in his debut World Rally Championship season.
Known as the 'Gravel Grand Prix,' Rally Finland is celebrated for its fast, flowing gravel roads and iconic jumps, making it a highlight of the WRC calendar.
At 26, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver McErlean is competing at the top WRC level with M-Sport. He arrives at Finland fresh from a solid ninth-place finish in Estonia alongside co-driver Eoin Treacy in their Ford Puma.
"Rally Finland is an event I've eagerly awaited since stepping up to Rally1 level," McErlean said. "This weekend is about progressing, trusting our pace notes, and applying everything we've learned so far.
"Confidence and rhythm will be key, and I'm ready to enjoy every moment driving through the forests."
McErlean views Estonia, with its similar stage characteristics, as a valuable learning experience. "It gave us a clean rally, steady pace improvement, and a platform to build upon," he added.
"Running second on the road from Saturday was challenging, and while we'd like to place higher this time, I now understand what to expect in that position.
"The focus is on fine-tuning, pushing limits where possible, and maintaining our upward trajectory."
The rally kicks off on Thursday and concludes after 20 stages on Sunday.
Josh McErlean emphasizes gaining confidence and rhythm as he approaches Rally Finland, aiming to build on his promising debut season in the World Rally Championship.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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