Irish Ford crews ready for gravel test at Rally de Portugal
The World Rally Championship returns to gravel this week for the sixth round of the season, and Irish interest remains high within the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team. Derry’s Josh McErlean and Fermanagh’s Jon Armstrong will both pilot Ford Puma Rally1 machinery as the series heads to the fast and technical stages of Portugal.
The event is known for its brutal conditions, featuring high temperatures and soft, sandy surfaces that quickly develop deep ruts. Strategy will be critical on Friday, which includes only a remote midday service, placing a premium on mechanical reliability and tire management.
Josh McErlean, co-driven by Eoin Treacy, arrives in Portugal following an eighth-place overall finish at the previous round in the Canary Islands. Currently sitting 20th in the WRC standings, McErlean has previous experience on these stages, having finished eighth overall in 2025.
“I’m excited to be back on gravel in Portugal – it’s an event I’ve always enjoyed and have good memories from,” McErlean said. “The stages are tough and can get very rough, so it’s about being smart, getting comfortable quickly and showing speed through the weekend.”
Jon Armstrong and co-driver Shane Byrne currently hold 13th in the championship. Armstrong previously secured a fourth-place finish in the WRC3 Junior category at this event in 2022 and is looking to capitalize on his road position during the early stages.
“Looking forward to the first proper gravel rally of the year,” Armstrong said. “I’ve done the rally a couple of times in the past and it’s always a big challenge; some rough action, some very soft sand, and I’m sure after our preparation that it’ll be really fun with the Puma. Hopefully we can make use of a good start position to try and have a solid run.”
The rally consists of 23 competitive stages totaling 344.91 km, based at the Exponor fairgrounds in Porto.
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