After two seasons in the World Rally Championship’s top flight, Josh McErlean is trying to work out his best option for 2027.
The 27-year-old, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed driver drove for M-Sport Ford in both 2025 and ’26, achieving a best finish of sixth at Acropolis Rally Greece and Rally del Paraguay this season.
His performance on the road in Greece was strong enough for fourth, however, before a post-event penalty dropped him two places.
McErlean drove M-Sport’s 2027 challenger, the Ford Fiesta Rally2 (fitted with the WRC Kit), as a course car at last week’s Rally Six Cities North of Portugal – the final round of the European Rally Championship – but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee that he and co-driver Eoin Treacy will compete for M-Sport again next season.
Speaking to DirtFish in Sardinia, McErlean confessed he had “no idea” what his WRC future held, but he wanted “to be at the top level”.
He added: “Obviously, we’re discussing, but I think with the shape of the sport going into next year, it’s still down to the Academy at this point. The motivation’s there, so let’s try and make it happen.”
Asked if he would be prepared to step down to Rally2, or if he would only be happy driving a WRC27 or WRC Kit Rally1 car, McErlean replied: “Let’s see.
“I think next year’s Rally2 car might not be so bad, so we’ll eye up our opportunities and let’s see what’s best.”
McErlean drove Hyundai Rally2 machinery from 2020-23 before switching to a Toksport Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in 2024.
M-Sport is currently the only constructor that has developed a WRC Kit for its existing Rally2 car. Toyota will run its new WRC27 car, while there will also be appearances by Project Rally One and WRT Rally1 Spain albeit on a partial basis next year.
