Their future is so bright they gotta wear shades
Photo by Conor O’Neil
Did you know that goggles are essential part of a toll kit on gravel rallies and that crews carry them in the spares package in much the same way the might carry a spare fan belt or steering component.
Last weekend Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy members Josh McErlean and James Fulton continued their WRC 2 Challenger campaign in Finland.
Driving a PCRS Rallysport-run Hyundai i20 Rally 2, they were setting top-five times within the WRC 2 challenger category throughout Friday and Saturday.
However, disaster struck late on Saturday when they suffered a low-speed roll and ended up stuck in one of Finland’s notorious ditches.
Aided by several Finish rally fans, they re-joined the road, but the considerable time loss dented any hope of a top result.
They lost the car’s windscreen in the shunt but apparat from minimal panel damage that car was otherwise unscathed and they were able to continue with the rally.
Lucky for them they were able reach into to their spares package and retrieve two face goggles which allowed them continue with the start loop of the rally.
Once back in the service park their PCRS Rallysport mechanics were able to repair the car in time for Sunday morning.
The damage was so small that a new windscreen was fitted without any need for pushing out panels etc.
They recovered well on Sunday morning and set the fifth fastest time on the event’s Power Stage – an indication of what could have been – but McErlean put his hands up and took responsibility for the incident.
Nevertheless, the Derry/Cavan pairing finished 19th overall.
“We pushed hard on the Power stage and showed the speed is there to fight towards the front with a top five times. We are very happy with this. The Irish support out here has been savage all weekend, so hats off to all of them people,” he said.
“And to everyone that has backed us, thank you. I’m sorry to the whole team for my mistake on Saturday afternoon as we got stuck in a ditch while holding a result well in the top of WRC2.
“We came here to show speed, we did that, now to get the whole package together.”
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