Josh McErlean has successfully completed his second season behind the wheel of a Rally1 car with a reasonably solid campaign. Throughout the championship calendar, the Irish driver consistently scored points, proving his ability to deliver reliable performances for his team in the premier class of world rallying.
The 27-year-old driver's career-best result of the season came in the form of impressive sixth-place finishes, which he achieved during demanding gravel and tarmac events in Greece and Paraguay. Despite showing consistent race pace, his competitive plans for the upcoming season remain shrouded in uncertainty due to a uniquely early end to the campaign and shifting technical regulations.
Addressing his current situation, Josh McErlean mentioned that while general discussions regarding next year have taken place, concrete answers are still pending as teams navigate the off-season period.
"There is no specific target at this stage. Hopefully, though, we will know more over the next few weeks," Josh McErlean stated regarding his ongoing contract talks.
"There are still at least two months until Rally Monte Carlo, and we usually only find out about our plans a couple of weeks beforehand. The sooner things become clear, the better. Hopefully, though, we will continue at the highest level," he added, looking ahead to the upcoming WRC rounds.
Despite the lack of an immediate contract, Josh McErlean expressed genuine interest in continuing his fruitful working relationship with M-Sport moving forward. The long-term future of the team offers plenty of reasons for optimism within the service park.
"Now that Ford is coming in for 2028, it would be good to remain involved with M-Sport. I see a lot of potential in it. With the Fiesta Rally2 in particular, we know the car’s chassis is really good, and there are also changes to the restrictors coming in. I think the Rally2 car might be closer to Toyota’s pace than the Puma, so the situation is not bad at all," he said with a laugh.
Furthermore, Josh McErlean emphasized that Ford's official long-term commitment for 2028 serves as a massive moral boost for the entire rallying community, extending far beyond his own personal career aspirations in the world championship.
"I think an announcement like this has an impact on everyone involved in the sport, from the top 10 in Rally1 down to Rally2, because everyone wants to work with a manufacturer. The people working at Ford are genuinely interested in rallying. I know they want to come in under the Ford Racing name, but their passion for the sport appears to be stronger than ever before," he concluded.
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