WALES RALLY GB 2019 SPOT FOR MCERLEAN
Junior BRC champion will drive Hyundai i20 R5 on WRC event
Josh Mcerlean says that he is ready to take on the challenge of driving an R5-specification car for the first time after being “handed a golden ticket” to compete on Wales Rally GB.
The 20-year-old will take to the wheel of a Hyundai i20 R5 on the World Rally Championship event as he makes his debut on the gravel rally.
The opportunity has been made possible with help from British Rally Championship bosses and Hyundai
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Racing after he wrapped up the Junior BRC title on August’s Ulster Rally.
Mcerlean is hoping his experience of taking part in the Cambrian Rally earlier this year, which uses some old Rally GB stages, will help him.
“The Welsh forests are out of this world, after sampling them on the Cambrian Rally I can’t wait to do more of them,” he told Motorsport News. “My co-driver Keaton [Williams] has done Wales Rally GB before, so that is going to be a massive help, too.
“This is quite an exciting opportunity for us and one that I have been dreaming of. To say you are going to be competing in a round of the World Rally Championship is like being handed a golden ticket! We are going to be thrown in at the deep end but I’m excited by the challenge.”
Mcerlean says that he is determined to make the most of the chance to share the stages with the world’s best and reckons the transition from his silverware-winning Peugeot 208 R2 to an i20 R5 should not pose too many problems.
“I have to be sensible and use my head because we have worked extremely hard to get this,” he said.
“With a good recce and lots of preparation beforehand, we should be in a good shape to give the event our very best shot.
“I don’t think moving from R2 to R5 is going to be difficult. After all, it is a natural progression and many others have done it before, so it should not be a major issue.”