Latest news with #AcropolisRallyGreece
Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Rally Estonia 'a real benchmark' for McErlean
Motorsport So far, as their maiden Rally1 journey continues within the top tier of the World Rally Championship, the Irish crew of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy seem to perform better on gravel surface and this weekend's Delfi Rally Estonia, one of the fastest gravel rallies in the WRC, awaits as they continue what is still a learning experience. McErlean, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Wednesday has only one previous experience of Estonia - in 2023 when he drove a Hyundai i20 Rally2 to an eighth place category finish. 'Rally Estonia is a real benchmark for pace and commitment - fast roads, big jumps and no room for hesitation. It's an incredible feeling driving these roads and one I've been looking forward to ever since stepping into the Puma Rally1. Every kilometre is a chance to grow, and I'm keen to keep pushing, learning and showing what we can do.' Last time out, a succession of punctures, suspension damage and only front-wheel drive for a time, gave them a torrid time on the Acropolis Rally Greece. "That was one of the toughest tests we've faced, physically and mentally. But it showed us where we can improve and what we're capable of overcoming. Now it's about taking those learnings and applying them to a much faster rally like Estonia.' Outlining the plan, he concluded, 'The priority is to deliver a clean rally, we want to apply everything we learned from Greece, from car set-up to tyre management and adapting to conditions, to rebuild our momentum. Estonia is a place I enjoy, but mistakes here are costly, especially with how precise you need to be. Estonia has no room for errors on the stages'. With some 308 stage kilometres until Sunday, the Kilrea driver and his Killeagh co-driver will have plenty to keep them busy to attain their quest including Saturday's infamous Otepaa stage with its equally renowned jump and Sunday's all-new Power Stage - Kaariku. While championship leader, Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) doesn't have his team mate and nearest challenger Sebastien Ogier snapping at his heels on this occasion, the presence of former event winners Ott Tanak (Hyundai 120 N Rally1) and Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) will chase the Welshman hard. Tanak's victory on the Acropolis Rally Greece has put him right back in contention, closing the gap to Evans twelve points, victory in his local event (he won in 2020) would continue to ramp up his bid. Tomorrow (Saturday) Omagh's Cathan McCourt (Skoda Fabia Rally2), outgoing NI champion Caryduff's Jonny Greer (Toyota Yaris Rally2) and Muff's Joe McGonigle (Citroen C3 Rally2) headline the R Kings Down Rally that brings the curtain down on the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship. The eight-stage event is also a counter for the UK National Asphalt series where Jersey driver Sam Touzel (Ford Fiesta Rally2) could inherit top spot in the absence of series leader Jason Pritchard. Others in the top ten include newly crowned NI champion Donegal's Aaron McLaughlin (VW Polo GTi R5) and Kinallen's Stuart Biggerstaff (Ford Fiesta Rally2). The first stage starts at 9.30am. Meanwhile, having lost the lead of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship to the Moffett brothers (Josh and Sam) some two weeks ago on the Raven's Rock Rally, Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) has a quick opportunity for reparation on Sunday's Sligo Rally, the fifth round of the series. Power steering issues whilst holding a sizeable lead meant Doherty only gleamed a solitary point from the Waterford based event. As the top seed in what is a capacity entry Doherty will aim to cut the ten points deficit to the Moffett duo, who are joint leaders of the series. Sam will steer the newer model Hyundai as Josh stays faithful to the R5 variant. The other main championship contenders are Derry's Desi Henry (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Others in the top ten are Donegal's Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and Kevin Eves (Ford Fiesta Rally2), Armagh's Darren Gass (VW Polo GTi R5) and Maynooth's Paul Barrett (Citroen C3 Rally2). The first of the day's nine stages (Ladies Brae) is at 10.07am.
Belfast Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Ott Tanak can stake World claim, says his leading Northern Ireland engineer Jamie McMillan
Tanak triumphed on a gruelling Acropolis Rally Greece recently to end his, and Hyundai Motorsport's, eight-month-long wait for a Rally1 victory. The Estonian kept his cool in extreme conditions at the 'Rally of the Gods' to finish with a 32.8-second lead over the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 of eight-time champion Sebastien Ogier, despite his i20 N Rally1 being struck down with transmission problems right at the death. The result has significantly boosted his title credentials and moves him to within 12 points of Elfyn Evans and three adrift of Ogier who has only signed up for a partial programme. Crucial to the result was the work of Tanak's mechanics during service halts, with these operations orchestrated by the 37-year-old's top engineer — Ballyclare's Jamie McMillan. McMillan feels the manner of the Acropolis performance fuels Tanak's victory hopes going to his home fixture next week. 'For Ott to win in Greece in the fashion he did, in such a positive way, and swing the odds a little bit back in our favour in the World Rally Championship fight is really great,' he said. 'It is definitely nice to get a victory for the team because it has been a long and super busy first six months and, ultimately, having a victory to celebrate in Greece is a big boost. 'The morale is an improvement on where it has been, and our attention has already turned to Estonia. 'We are trying to get the car in as good a window as possible for his home event.' He added: 'Ott is fast and usually competitive in Estonia, although the high-speed gravel roads are going to be a challenge with the updated 'Evo' car and we are going to have to work hard to pull the package together, to make it work, if we want him to fight for the victory there. 'If we can, then we have Estonia to look forward to and then Finland where the roads are similar.' McMillan hopes Tanak's run of bad luck in the first half of the campaign is now at an end and those who feed into the No.8 car can pull out all the stops to keep him in the title fight until the final round in November. 'We are not in too bad a position now and hopefully we can take advantage of Seb's absence in Estonia and take some good points and close the gap on Elfyn,' he added. 'If we do that, then the rest of the season should be really interesting — especially as Ott's pace has just always been there.'
