McErlean to return to WRC Rally1 for second season with M-Sport Ford
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed driver Josh McErlean has been confirmed to return to the pinnacle of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2026, securing a second consecutive season with the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team in the Ford Puma Rally1.
The 26-year-old Irishman and his co-driver Eoin Treacy are set to build on an encouraging debut year in the sport’s elite category in 2025. Their first full season in Rally1 machinery was focused entirely on learning, development, and adaptation across global events, culminating in a respectable 11th place finish in the 2025 Drivers’ standings [Source 1.5] and career-best seventh-place finishes in Monte Carlo, Finland, and the Central European Rally
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be confirmed with M-Sport for the 2026 WRC season,” said McErlean. “To be given the opportunity to come back for a second year at this level honestly means everything. I’m incredibly grateful to M-Sport and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy for continuing to believe in me and giving me the chance to build properly.”
McErlean reflected on the personal growth from his debut year, stating, “I’m in a completely different place mentally compared to this time last year. I feel stronger, clearer in my thinking, and much more comfortable in the environment. Now I feel ready to really put into practice everything we’ve taken from that first year.”
The continuation of the programme marks a significant step for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, which has guided the pairing’s progression to the top level.
Academy founder and patron John Coyne praised the progress: “Josh’s first year in Rally1 was exactly what it needed to be, challenging, educational, and full of important milestones. You could see his confidence building, his understanding deepening, and his belief strengthening. A second year allows him to turn experience into performance, and that’s a crucial phase in any top-level driver’s journey.”
The 2026 FIA World Rally Championship season, which includes 14 rounds, begins with the legendary Rallye Monte Carlo from January 22 to 25
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