The WRC hybrid era produced one of the most significant regulatory overhauls in the sport's modern history, and the Ford Puma Rally1 sits at the centre of it. This 1:43 scale model by IXO Models documents a specific entry — number 55, M-Sport Ford, Rally Monte-Carlo 2026 — with Joshua McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy as identified on the model's livery, rendered in the team's blue, green and white colour scheme.
The Ford Puma Rally1: Hybrid Power in a Homologated Package
Introduced for the 2022 WRC season, the Ford Puma Rally1 is built around the road-going Ford Puma crossover, homologated under the new GR1 regulations that mandated a standardised 100 kW hybrid unit supplied by Compact Dynamics. The internal combustion element is a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, paired with the motor-generator unit to meet the Rally1 technical framework. M-Sport Ford developed the car at their Dovenby Hall facility in Cumbria, UK, bringing a British-built challenger to the top tier of world rallying.
McErlean, Treacy and the Monte-Carlo Stage
Joshua McErlean is a Northern Irish driver who has competed in WRC2 competition. Eoin Treacy is listed as co-driver on the model. Rally Monte-Carlo is the traditional season opener, run across the Alpine roads surrounding Monaco, and its mixed-surface, low-grip conditions make it one of the most technically demanding rounds on the calendar. Car number 55 in M-Sport Ford's blue, green and white colour scheme represents a distinct livery variant within the Puma Rally1 model family.
The 1:43 Scale Model: IXO Models in Die-Cast Metal
IXO Models is an Italian specialist producer with a long focus on rally and circuit racing subjects in 1:43. This example is produced in die-cast metal, a material that delivers the crisp panel definition and accurate proportions that the scale demands. The model reproduces car number 55 in the 2026 M-Sport Ford livery — blue, green and white — with the specific competition graphics of the Rally Monte-Carlo entry as depicted on the product. As a new release from IXO Models, it joins a catalogue that consistently targets rally subjects underserved by the larger mainstream manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ford Puma Rally1?
It is Ford's top-level WRC competitor from 2022 onwards, developed by M-Sport Ford at their Dovenby Hall base in Cumbria. It uses a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with a standardised 100 kW hybrid unit, as required by the Rally1 regulations.
Who are Joshua McErlean and Eoin Treacy?
Joshua McErlean is a Northern Irish rally driver who has competed in WRC2 competition. Eoin Treacy is listed as his co-driver on this model. The product depicts the two as the crew of car number 55 at the 2026 Rally Monte-Carlo.
Who makes this model and what material is it?
The model is produced by IXO Models, an Italian specialist manufacturer with a focus on rally and racing subjects. It is made from die-cast metal at a scale of 1:43.
What livery does car number 55 carry?
Car number 55 is finished in M-Sport Ford's livery of blue, green and white — a colour combination that distinguishes it from other entries in the Puma Rally1 range.
