'One of the best places to visit' - McErlean and Treacy big in Japan

EASTERN PROIMSE: The Irish crew of Kilrea's Josh McErlean and Killeagh's Eoin Treacy in the M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Puma Rally1 have three seventh place finishes in the World Rally Championship that continues this weekend with the penultimate round, the FORUM8 Rally Japan. Picture: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool.

As they approach the final events of their maiden WRC Rally1 season, the Irish crew of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy have a clear plan for this weekend’s Forum8 Rally Japan, the penultimate round of the World Rally Championship. McErlean can call on the experience of his Rally2 debut on this event a year ago and will be eager to put it to good effect.

“It’s great to be back in Japan,” he said. “I competed here in a Rally2 car last year so I know how tricky and also rewarding these stages can be. After a positive run in Central Europe, the aim is to keep that momentum going and end the event in a good place with M-Sport whilst improving our tarmac pace. I love Japan and its culture, plus the fans are incredible; it’s one of the best places to visit during the season.”

Co-driver Treacy, for whom it is a debut event, has little time to admire the scenery as he will be busy calling the notes for the technical and demanding conditions.

M-Sport Ford WRT principal Richard Millener emphasised their task. “Rally Japan is always a big challenge for both the team and the drivers,” he said.

“The roads are incredibly narrow; visibility can be limited under the trees; and the conditions can change quickly.”

The Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris trio of Welsh ace Elfyn Evans, French driver Sebastien Ogier, and Finland’s Kalle Rovanpera will battle for the World Rally Championship drivers’ title, with Estonian Ott Tanak (Hyundai i20 Rally1) still in with a chance of snatching the title away from the Toyota trio.

Evans is in the driving seat with a 13- point lead over his team-mates.

The Irish crew of Kilrea's Josh McErlean and Killeagh's Eoin Treacy in the M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Puma Rally1 have three seventh place finishes in the World Rally Championship that continues this weekend with the penultimate round, the FORUM8 Rally Japan. Picture: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool.

Toyota, for whom this is a home event (based in Toyota City), have already secured the manufacturers’ title and the odds are high to add more silverware in the shape of the drivers’ title.

Evans knows the score. “Rally Japan is always a big week as the home event for TGR and there’s a very special atmosphere,” he said. “It’s not an easy rally, with very demanding and twisty stages, and in the last few years we’ve seen some quite difficult conditions at times. Even when it’s dry, there’s very little margin for error and it’s easy to make a small but costly mistake.”

Local hero Takamoto Katsuta has Northern Ireland’s Aaron Johnston by his side and will be eager to deliver a win for the passionate Japanese fans.

Meanwhile, it may well be an outside chance for Tanak, but he won’t lack the resolve to keep his title bid on track, and team-mate and outgoing champion Thierry Neuville, along with Adrien Fourmaux, will be keen to salvage something from what’s been a somewhat frustrating season.

Tomorrow’s rearranged Donegal Forest Rally concludes the action in the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship, with newly-crowned champion Tyrone’s Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) headlining a capacity entry. Having to tailor his drive on the previous two rounds in his bid to secure the title, Mitchell can now go on maximum attack in Donegal.

From a season in the World Junior Rally Championship where he got plenty of experience of gravel events, especially in Rally Finland and the Acropolis Rally, Donegal’s Eamonn Kelly swaps his Ford Fiesta Rally3 for a more potent Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. It won’t be a surprise if he’s the one to set the pace and he should transition well.

Two years ago he steered a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 on Rally Finland. Fellow Ulster drivers Niall Devine and Mark Donnelly, both in VW Polo GTi R5s, along with Kevin Eves (Ford Fiesta Rally2), last year’s national forest champion Derek Mackarel (Ford Fiesta R5) and David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) are among the top 10. First car away for the day’s five stages is at 8am.

The NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship awards take place at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, Cork, tomorrow night. Derry’s Callum Devine, who secured his second ITRC title in three years, will be presented with the Fisher Family Perpetual Trophy. Other principal award winners are Armagh’s Damien Toner (modified category), Donegal’s John O’Donnell (historics), and junior champion Donegal’s Ronan Dorrian.

Kris Meeke will compete in the Killarney Historic Rally, where the Dungannon native will steer a BMW M3 E30 prepared by Dutch team MATS BV.