Mcerlean Planning 'step Forward' At Rally Finland

Josh McErlean says it will beryllium a "special feeling" to compete astatine Rally Finland successful nan World Rally Championship.

The rally is considered 1 of nan crown jewel events of nan WRC and is known arsenic nan 'Gravel Grand Prix' because of its fast, flowing roads and iconic jumps.

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver McErlean, 26, is successful his debut play successful nan apical tier of nan WRC pinch M-Sport and heads into nan arena disconnected nan backmost of a coagulated capacity successful Estonia.

"Rally Finland is an arena I've been looking guardant to ever since we sewage nan opportunity to compete astatine Rally1 level," said McErlean.

"This play is astir taking a measurement forward, trusting successful ourselves, committing afloat to nan pacenotes, and starting to bring everything we person learnt together.

"The cardinal will beryllium assurance and rhythm, and I'm fresh to bask each infinitesimal of nan thrust done nan forests."

McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy vanished ninth successful their Ford Puma successful Estonia - a rally which consists of akin traits to nan iconic stages of Finland.

The Northern Ireland driver wants to build connected momentum gained from Estonia and said "it is each portion of nan learning process".

"Estonia gave america precisely what we needed, a cleanable rally, beardown gait progression, and thing to build from," McErlean added.

"From Saturday onwards successful Estonia it was challenging moving 2nd connected nan road, and hopefully we tin beryllium a small higher up nan bid this time, but I surely now cognize what to expect if we are successful that position again.

"Now for me, it's astir fine-tuning, pushing wherever we can, and keeping that upward curve going."

The rally originates connected Thursday and nan last of 20 stages takes spot connected Sunday.