WRC, Sportrik Media – M-Sport Ford endured a bittersweet weekend at Rally Japan 2025, as Gregoire Munster matched his career-best fifth place on slippery asphalt, while Josh McErlean's early crash sparked major concerns ahead of the Saudi Arabia finale. While Munster delivered steadily, severe damage to McErlean's car forces the team into a frantic repair race.
Munster, with navigator Louis Louka, capitalized on rivals' errors to climb to fifth, dodging risks in Sunday's downpour. He even withstood late pressure from Kalle Rovanperä of Toyota, who recovered from an opening blunder but couldn't overtake in the finale. This marked Munster's debut on Hankook wet tires, balancing speed and stability on the Puma Rally1's understeer-prone setup through Japan's narrow twists over 305 km. "We're content with top five after a tough season, but fending off Kalle demanded full focus," Munster reflected, highlighting adaptation to the demanding stages.
Moreover, team principal Richard Millener praised Munster's progress as a rare bright spot amid new regs and challenging Pirelli tires. Deeper analysis shows this finish vital for M-Sport, struggling in 2025 with just two podiums—Munster now at 48 points, up to eighth in standings. Yet, it starkly contrasts McErlean's fate, the Irish rookie who crashed heavily in stage three, marking his fifth retirement this year and forcing an early DNF.
McErlean's high-speed armco impact inflicted major front-end damage to the Puma Rally1, including suspension and aero components. Millener stressed safety first: "We're gutted for Josh and Eoin Treacy, but relieved they're okay." The team now scrambles for repairs in two weeks, eyeing Saudi Arabia's unforgiving gravel heat debut. In his full WRC rookie campaign, this setback amplifies pressure—our take predicts it could ripple into the finale, where M-Sport trails Toyota by 32 manufacturer points.
Looking ahead, M-Sport must rally: Munster's poise could anchor midfield survival, while swift fixes decide McErlean's lineup in Saudi. "We'll rise stronger for Saudi's thrill," vowed McErlean, though time ticks down. Follow WRC insights at Sportrik.com/en.
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