MCERLEAN GETS FIRST TASTE OF HYUNDAI R5
Junior BRC champion preparing for Wales Rally GB outing this week
Josh Mcerlean has had his first taste of the Hyundai i20 R5 he will use on this week’s Wales Rally GB, and believes he is now fully ready for this weekend’s challenge.
The Junior British Rally champion spent last Thursday in the south of France testing the car, which included a twohour session covering around 40 miles on a loose surface.
The 20-year-old from Kilrea is getting the opportunity to take part in the 12th round of the World Rally Championship this weekend as reward for lifting the JBRC title on the Ulster Rally in August.
The deal, which Mcerlean has likened to being handed “a golden ticket”, has been spearheaded by British Rally Championship boss, Iain Campbell, with support from Hyundai Motorsport.
“We had a good feeling with the car from the very first corner,” Mcerlean told Motorsport News. “It’s a fun, comfortable and strong car and we got progressively quicker as the day went on.
“Going there, the priority for me was to learn as much about the car as I could and get a better understanding of how a four-wheel-drive like that works.
“On reflection, I think we accomplished all of our targets and more on the trip.”
Wales Rally GB will be the first time Mcerlean has made an appearance in the R5 class but, having liaised closely with Hyundai Motorsport engineers during the test session, he is quietly confident.
“The car, and the team especially, are something else,” he said. “They look in depth at things and have an answer for you straight away. The chance to work with people like that was a great experience.
“Getting quicker in the car was the target for us and we achieved that. On the rally itself we will do our own thing, stay out of trouble and make it to the finish.”