Irish Crews Set for South American Showdown at Rally Chile

Irish Crews Set for South American Showdown at Rally Chile

Strong Irish representation heads for action this weekend as the World Rally Championship moves west for the second leg of its South American double-header at Rally Chile.

Following a demanding outing at Rally del Paraguay, crews now transition to Chile’s flowing, technical gravel stages based around Concepción. The 16-stage event covers 311.18 competitive kilometres, featuring a heavily revised route with 40 per cent new territory for 2026.

McErlean and Treacy Target Strong Build in Ford Puma Rally1

Derry driver Josh McErlean and Kilkenny co-driver Eoin Treacy lead the Irish charge, returning for their second Rally Chile appearance in their M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1. The all-Irish pairing enters the weekend ninth in the WRC standings, looking to build on their sixth-place finish in Paraguay where they ran in podium contention on Friday.

Friday’s opening leg presents a fresh challenge, with three heavily reworked stages run in reverse either side of midday service.

Reflecting on the task ahead, Josh McErlean said:

“After a solid run in Paraguay, we’ll head to Chile looking to push on and keep building from there. It’s a rally I really enjoy; the stages are always really nice to drive when you get into a rhythm.”

“Friday will be a little different this year with the stages running in reverse, so that will bring a fresh challenge and make the recce really important. The team are doing a massive job across these two rallies, especially with such a short turnaround between Paraguay and Chile, so hopefully we can reward all their hard work with another strong weekend.”

Armstrong and Byrne Look to Bounce Back on Chile Debut

Fermanagh driver Jon Armstrong and Donegal co-driver Shane Byrne form M-Sport’s second all-Irish Ford Puma Rally1 crew as they prepare for their maiden Rally Chile appearance. After Sunday disappointment forced an early retirement in Paraguay, the pair are focused on making the most of their road position on Friday’s firmer gravel base.

Looking ahead to his first outing in Chile, Jon Armstrong said:

“I’m really looking forward to Rally Chile. It’s going to be quite different to what we experienced in Paraguay. The roads here are more traditional gravel, with a firmer and more compact base, so the feeling and the way you can attack the stages should be quite different.”

“Road cleaning can also be quite significant in Chile, so hopefully we can make the most of our road position on Friday, find a good rhythm early on and carry that through the rest of the weekend.”

“It’s nice to have another rally as part of this South American leg. Paraguay didn’t go to plan for us, so we’re motivated to bounce back strongly in Chile and see what we can achieve.”

James Fulton Returns to Top Tier Beside Katsuta

Galway co-driver James Fulton makes a sudden return to top-tier WRC action this weekend, standing in for Aaron Johnston alongside Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Takamoto Katsuta.

Johnston suffered a fractured collarbone during a high-speed accident on the final day in Paraguay and remains sidelined to allow recovery time. Fulton steps into the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 cockpit to guide the Japanese driver through Chile’s fast and narrow forest tracks.

Speaking on the last-minute crew change, Takamoto Katsuta said:

“Like in Paraguay, the fans in Chile have always been really excited for the rally and supporting us as drivers. The stages can be quite tricky. Some of the roads – particularly those we’ve driven on Friday in recent years – are quite cambered and narrow and there’s not so much margin.”

“If they stay dry, the roads can get abrasive so you need to manage the tyres, especially on the second pass, but the weather can also make things difficult if there’s low cloud or fog. I want to wish Aaron a speedy recovery and I’m grateful to James and to the team for their support and making it possible for us to drive together in Chile.”

Rally Chile Key Event Schedule

Sunday, 13 September: Leg 3 — 4 Stages including Biobío Power Stage

Thursday, 10 September: Shakedown & Ceremonial Start (Concepción)

Friday, 11 September: Leg 1 — 6 Stages

Saturday, 12 September: Leg 2 — 6 Stages (139.2 km)