JBRC WINNER MCERLEAN KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN
Josh Mcerlean has said all options will be considered for next season after securing the Junior British
Rally Championship drivers’ title with victory on last week’s Ulster Rally.
The 20-year-old added to his West Cork and Pirelli International rally successes on home soil to put the title beyond the reach of William Creighton and James Williams.
As the highest-placed Peugeot competitor, the Kilrea-based driver received a further cheque for £2500 to bring his total earnings for the campaign to £8500. That could grow further still if he opts to contest the sixth and final round in Scotland on the weekend of September 14.
“I’m over the moon with the result and the fact we have wrapped up the title,” said Mcerlean. “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet and to be honest I don’t think it will for at least a couple of days.
“As far as where we go and what we do next season it is still too early to say. I am going to have to sit down, see what the budget is and what that will allow us to do as a team.”
After six stages, Williams led Mcerlean before the turbo pipe on the engine of the Welsh driver’s Ford Fiesta R2T was dislodged when the car landed heavily over a jump on SS7 to leave it down on power. “James had a problem, which is unfortunate, but we had bad luck of our own last year,” Mcerlean said.
“That is part and parcel of rallying and one of the reasons that we do it.”
Mcerlean’s achievement was singled out by Ulster Rally organisers as they presented him with the Philip White Perpetual Young Achiever’s Award.