Josh McErlean optimistic after the Rally Sweden: "We are heading in the right direction"

While the still fresh memory of a Monte Carlo experienced as "Probably one of the most difficult weekends" The weight of his career weighed heavily on people's minds, but Josh McErlean can now be satisfied with having gone all the way. rally demanding, while showing in sequences a very solid rhythm.

"It's nice to see this through to the end after what I experienced in Monte Carlo.""He confided to AUTOhebdo, relieved. “We are heading in the right direction. There were moments this weekend where the pace was really good, others less so, but from the team's point of view it's positive to have two cars finish.” A collective satisfaction that counts, as the program must now look ahead to Kenya, the next event with a completely different profile.

Already, the Irishman has his sights set on Africa: "Now we're going to Kenya where it's a real lottery."He smiled, aware of the pitfalls of such a specific rally. The surface suits him: dirt, which he particularly likes. "It's always a rally on gravel, something we look forward to and hope to learn a lot from after this weekend."

In this rise to power, the presence of a particularly high-performing teammate in Jon Armstrong plays a key role. “Looking at Jon’s performances in ERC (European Rally Championship, editor's note) Last year, we knew he was going to come in strong, and he's doing a great job, there's no doubt about that.""This internal competition, far from destabilizing him, acts as an additional driving force," acknowledges the Ford driver. “Compared to last year, I now have a very strong teammate. […] We perhaps have a different way of looking at things.”

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This duo works all the better because the two men share the same roots. "Even from a setup perspective, we're both Irish, we know how the other reacts, it's really interesting."Josh McErlean explains. The arrival of this new driver in the team offers a fresh perspective on the car's behavior, its strengths as well as its limitations. "When a new driver takes the wheel, they bring a different perspective on how the car performs. That's a lot of information we can both benefit from."

Interview by Pierre Barré, in Umeå, Sweden.