On Thursday, McErlean begins his first full season in the World Rally Championship. The Irishman has already gained experience with a Rally1 car during pre-season testing and was deeply impressed by the experience.
“It was a fantastic couple of days of testing, we have learnt a lot from Greg and the team, they have been super supportive and welcoming, making the process easier jumping into the Rally1 car,” McErlean said gratefully.
“The test itself was fantastic: these cars are amazing, the downforce and the grip they create is phenomenal! We got running both on snow and full dry conditions, making it very productive being our first time in the car,” McErlean added.
McErlean’s lifelong dream becomes a reality on Thursday evening when the Rally Monte-Carlo begins.
“Standing on the start line at Casino Square next Thursday will be a special moment for me,” he said.
“Lining up in Casino Square will be a special moment for me come next Thursday. It is a moment I have dreamt of since childhood, so I just want to appreciate and enjoy that. We are in a very privileged position and I just want to do the best job possible for everyone involved, be consistent and make progress throughout the event,” McErlean continued.
M-Sport’s second driver, Gregoire Munster, also faces a new situation this season as he takes on the role of the team’s more experienced driver.
“We had a good pre-event test; the first day on the dry we tried some new things which I think will be a key factor for this year, and we had a good feeling on snow as well with this. There are some adjustments to make, now we don’t have the hybrid, but the feeling so far is good,” Munster commented.
“Monte-Carlo is always a tricky event with all the varied conditions, especially with all the ice that can gather throughout the night. You need to have a car that you feel comfortable in, and that works on every surface, and we are confident we have this for the event. I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere on Thursday night during the night stages, it’s such a special feeling for the first stages of the new season. I think all the drivers know the feeling,” Munster said enthusiastically.
