The coffin of the late Paddy Flanagan is carried into the church. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)
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08 Nov 2025
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08 Nov 2025
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County Derry’s Josh McErlean will compete in the World Rally Championship for 2025.
The Kilrea man will join Eoin Treacy, making an all Irish crew, for the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team behind the wheel of a Ford Puma Rally1.
It is a huge boost for McErlean, who has previously competed in WRC2 and ERC championships, as has Treacy.
McErlean is a former winner of the Billy Coleman “Young Rally Driver of the Year” award in 2019.
He will become the first driver from Ireland to compete in rallying's top tier since the late Craig Breen in 2023, and the first driver from Northern Ireland since Kris Meeke in 2019.
The deal for the pair is supported by the MI Rally Academy, most importantly with the financial backing of philanthropist John Coyne.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise throughout an impressive season in 2024, with the standout moment being a WRC2 second-place finish in Portugal earlier this year, with the success being backed by the MI Rally Academy and John Coyne.
The Derry man said: “This is a massive step in my career, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved - Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, John Coyne, supporters, family and the team - for making this possible. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel.”
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