Irish Competitors Gear Up for Safari Rally Kenya in 2025 WRC

Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy are set to participate in the Safari Rally Kenya, marking their third event of the 2025 World Rally Championship. The Safari Rally will challenge competitors with its unique gravel terrain. Fellow competitor Aaron Johnston also joins the event, bringing his experience and recent success. The rally consists of shakedowns and 21 competitive stages, promising to be a rigorous test on this year’s WRC calendar.

This weekend, the iconic Safari Rally Kenya marks the third World Rally Championship event of 2025 for competitors Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy, members of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. Together, they are part of a three-car M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 team, following promising performances in Monte-Carlo and Sweden. This year, the Safari Rally introduces gravel terrain, differing significantly from previous gravel events in the WRC calendar, presenting unique challenges.

The Safari Rally is renowned for its rigorous conditions, featuring rugged terrain, the notorious extremely fine dust known as fesh-fesh, and tricky water sections. McErlean and Treacy experienced a taste of these challenges through their participation in the East African Safari Classic Rally in a Porsche 911 at the end of 2023, which spanned 1,500 kilometers and illuminated the complexities of navigating the equatorial region.

Josh McErlean remarked, “I have said it about every rally so far this year, but this event is so unique, it is hard to fully know what to expect.” He adopted a measured strategy during his Rally1 debut at Monte-Carlo, where he secured M-Sport’s first championship points of the year. His performance continued positively on the snow stages of Rally Sweden, culminating in the crew’s first overall victory in Ireland’s National Rally Championship after a swift return home.

Another notable competitor is Aaron Johnston, who will embark on his fifth Safari Rally Kenya. As a co-driver for Toyota, he has two podium finishes in previous Safari events alongside Takamoto Katsuta. Johnston approaches this year’s rally in top form, having secured a strong second-place finish in Sweden. The Safari Rally Kenya consists of a total of 21 stages, starting with a shakedown on Wednesday and competitive stages commencing on Thursday afternoon, poised to be one of the toughest challenges on the 2025 WRC calendar.

The Safari Rally Kenya is set to present unprecedented challenges for competitors as they navigate its rugged terrain and unique conditions. With participants like Josh McErlean, Eoin Treacy, and Aaron Johnston showcasing talent from the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, the event promises to be a significant test of skill and endurance in the World Rally Championship. Enthusiasts can expect an exhilarating experience as these drivers tackle one of the most iconic rallies of the season.

Original Source: www.northernsound.ie