Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy ready for start of World Rally Championship in Monte-Carlo

"Lining up in Casino Square will be a special moment, one I have dreamt of since childhood, so I just want to appreciate and enjoy that," said McErlean.

Drivers and co-drivers from the Rally1 category of the World Rally Championship in Monte-Carlo ahead of the season opening Rallye Monte-Carlo. Irish duo Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy are pictured fifth and fourth from right respectively. Picture: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool .

As a new season of the World Rally Championship begins this Thursday evening with Rallye Monte-Carlo, the Irish pair of Kilrea's Josh McErlean and Killeagh's Eoin Treacy are pinching themselves at the reality that they are competing at the very top tier of the sport.

They will compete with the M-Sport World Rally team that also includes Luxemburg's Grégoire Munster and his Belgian co-driver Louis Louka.

It's a situation that neither McErlean nor Treacy could have predicted or possibly imagined not so long ago but with philanthropist John Coyne backing their participation through the Motorsport Ireland Academy, it's a reality as they line-up at Casino Square in the Principality in their Ford Puma Rally1 car.

A recent pre-event test in the Hautes-Alpes region gave McErlean and Treacy the experience of both dry tarmac and full-snow conditions, ideal as Monte-Carlo always offer varying conditions even on each stage.

New seasons bring new expectations with Hyundai Motorsport and the Toyota Gazoo Racing outfits ready to begin their quest for the ultimate aim of winning both the Manufacturers' and Drivers' titles.

Without hybrid power, the Rally1 cars will be shod with Hankook tyres as the Korean outfit replaces Pirelli, who completed a four-year term last year.

Indeed, that could prove more than interesting, albeit it's the same for all the teams.

The rally will be based in Gap with Thursday evening's three stages accompanied by the customary flares and fireworks from the fans that line the special stages.

Switching from WRC2 to Rally1 is a demanding progression and M-Sport hasn't placed any huge expectation on the Irish pair as they get to grips with the situation.

"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." said McErlean.

"These cars are amazing, the downforce and the grip they create is phenomenal. Lining up in Casino Square will be a special moment, one 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.”

There is also a change in the driver line-up within the other teams as French ace Adrien Fourmaux, previously with M-Sport, joins the Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT alongside World champion Thierry Neuville and Estonia's Ott Tanak and Finland's Sami Pajari, who now has a full-time drive with the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT outfit.

Neuville, who won his maiden WRC title last year said: "As with every year, our goal is to fight for the best possible result. Obviously in 2024 we got the drivers’ championship and we narrowly missed out on the manufacturers.

"We have had some testing with the car in 2025 spec, but it will be more about the new tyres and how we adapt to them – this is where we are missing the experience and knowledge at the moment.

"There is a lot to look forward to this year, but also a lot to anticipate, I am really excited to be back in the car again this year.”

Team mates Ott Tanak and new recruit Fourmaux won't make it easy for Neuville and heightens the challenge.

Toyota trio Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta (with Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston) and double world champion Kalle Rovanpera, who returns for a full season along with Pajari, will be joined by eight time world champion Sébastien Ogier, who is on a selected programme once more as he seeks a record tenth Monte victory.

This Irish contingent in Monte-Carlo also includes the Wexford and Waterford pairing of Eamonn Boland and Mickey Joe Morrissey (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Cavan co-driver James Fulton, who partners Japan's Yuki Yamamoto, also in a Ford Fiesta Rally2.

Thursday evening's first stage begins at 6.05pm local time.