Across four punishing days of competition on the rough Greek gravel, McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy delivered the strongest Rally1 performance of McErlean’s career to date. Running as high as fourth overall and consistently mixing with the frontrunners on stage pace, the Irish crew demonstrated a significant step forward in both speed and rally management across the full event.
Whilst many crews were caught out by the unforgiving terrain, the Irishman’s measured approach ensured he remained firmly in the fight throughout, building a result that marked a clear milestone in his Rally1 progression. The result also highlighted the continued progress made alongside M-Sport Ford World Rally Team and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, reflecting 18 months of intensive development since stepping into the sport’s top category.
Now attention turns to the fast-flowing gravel of Rally Estonia, based in Tartu, where McErlean faces an entirely different challenge. Known for its ultra-fast and highly demanding nature, Estonia offers a stark contrast to the rugged endurance test of Greece.
The event features a mix of wide, high-speed forest roads and narrower technical sections across southern Estonia’s rolling landscape. Flat-out crests, high-speed compression zones and frequent jumps define the character of the rally, demanding absolute commitment and pinpoint accuracy from start to finish.
For McErlean, the key will be carrying forward the momentum built in Greece into the WRC’s high-speed gravel phase, which continues immediately afterwards in Finland.
“This is a really important step for us,” McErlean said. “Greece was a massive confidence boost and showed what we’re capable of when everything comes together. The pace was strong, the consistency was there, and we managed the whole event in a much more complete way.”
“Now we head into Estonia, which is the complete opposite challenge. It’s flat-out from the start, and there’s no margin for error. You need total commitment and absolute trust in the notes and the car.”
“The key is to carry the confidence from Greece without changing the approach too much. We know the speed is there; it’s about refining everything and adapting quickly to these very different conditions.”
“It’s an exciting part of the season for us. Estonia and Finland are the fastest rallies in the championship, and they’re a great test of where we are as a team. We’re looking forward to it.”
McErlean is backed by Woodland NI, Admore Air Conditioning, M.P Burke Transport, SDC Trailers, EC Framing, Tulach Properties, Carbon Fusion, Fastener Connections and McCormack Contracting Inc.
