John Coyne - patron of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy - says McErlean is ahead of their planned curve
Photography by M-Sport
Words by Luke Barry & David Evans
Josh McErlean is set to get a second season in a Rally1 car, provided he keeps up his current trajectory.
McErlean joined the M-Sport World Rally Championship lineup for 2025 and has impressed with his attitude, but also his speed on rallies like Sweden and Portugal.
Sardinia was the first major blip of his season as he ripped a wheel off the car on the second stage and spent the rest of the weekend sweeping the stages.
Along with his co-driver Eoin Treacy, McErlean is part of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy which is nurturing young Irish talent into rallying. Fellow members include 2023 Junior WRC champion William Creighton and current M-Sport European Rally Championship driver Jon Armstrong.
Asked for his thoughts on the season so far, John Coyne – patron for the MI Rally Academy – told DirtFish McErlean is “a little bit ahead of the curve” that he had expected.
John Coyne has been impressed with the rate of McErlean's progression
“Josh has been making really solid progress event to event,” Coyne said. “The pace is coming up, and every error has been a learning experience. He’s kept the head up.
“You know, the last two days [in Sardinia] were extremely difficult, opening the road and I think that’s given him a new appreciation for what the top guys need to be able to do. And I mean, when you look, the first pass of the powerstage versus the second pass, he was three seconds a kilometer quicker on the second pass and it’s all road sweeping.
“So understanding that and learning how to deal with the conditions is a big part of why we’re here this year, to learn all those things.”
One of the clearest parameters of McErlean’s progress is his seconds per kilometer deficit to the fastest drivers, but Coyne admitted it’s hard to set an objective in those terms because of variables like road position.
“But I have to say I think he’s ahead of our plan, and that’s really good,” he added. “And when you consider that they started the year, you know, Eoin was jumping into his first WRC season and they’ve gelled very well. It’s working really well in and out of the car.
“I think there’s a result hiding in there that hopefully we’ll get before the end of the year. But really, the entire year is about learning so that we can go for real next year.”
Asked if that hiding result was a podium, Coyne confirmed: “Yeah.”
And he’s keen McErlean capitalizes on his learning in 2025 to go again in 2026.
Coyne: ” I think if he keeps up the improvements that he’s been making event by event, if we keep on the same trajectory, I would certainly hope to see him there again next year to capitalize on the learning.”
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: John Coyne, Josh McErlean, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, WRC, WRC 2025, WRC 2026
Publish Date June 17, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/06/rYP1LkjO-WRC_ITA_25__1542-780x520.jpg June 17, 2025
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