All positives from Forest Rally podium

Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney have secured back-to-back Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) podiums after finishing the 2024 Forest Rally in third place overall.

In what was a solid day out for Alex and Steve, the pair managed to guide their IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car to third place in today’s Heat, earning them third for the overall round.

Although they ended up scoring a third place in the Heat by 30 seconds, it was hardly an easy run for Alex and Steve.

They were involved in an entertaining battle with Eddie Maguire and Zak Brakey all day long, and with their rivals ahead by half a second at the midway point, a strong run of results in the afternoon put the Hyundai ahead. 

An overall win on the penultimate stage was the highlight of their day and saw them secure third place for the Heat and the outright event.

Ending Heat 2 in fifth place overall was the second IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing Hyundai i20 N Rally2 of Peter Rullo and Jimmy Marquet. 

After showing plenty of improvement in Saturday’s Heat, they were far more consistent on Sunday as they finished seventh or higher on every stage, eventually emerging victorious in an intense battle with Steve Maguire and Ben Searcy that went down to the final stage.

Having slotted into fifth place for the Heat on the day’s second last stage, Peter and Jimmy sealed their top five finish with a personal best third in the Galvaniize Insurance Power Stage, scoring some bonus championship points in the process.

Alex Rullo/Steve Glenney (#5 Hyundai i20 N Rally2)

Alex said: “I thought Canberra was good, but this one feels even better.

“I thought this would be one of our weaker rounds but two thirds in the Heats and third overall, we can’t complain.

“We were patient yesterday, and then the car came to us today and we could attack. It’s feeling awesome with the times, but the good thing is that there’s definitely more time to come still, so it’s back to work. You never know what's going to happen.”

Peter Rullo/Jimmy Marquet (#11 Hyundai i20 N Rally2)

Peter said: "I think we went okay. On the last few stages of the event, the car has been doing exactly what I have asked of it. I can't ask for more. 

“The team has been great, Jimmy has been great with the calls. Everything has been fantastic this afternoon.”

"I’m also very proud of Alex. It’s great for him to do well."

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION

Forest Rally, Heat 2

1. Bates/Taylor, Toyota, 44m26.9s

2. Bates/McLoughlin, Toyota, +32.6s

3. Rullo/Glenney, Hyundai, +57.2s

4. Maguire/Brakey, Skoda, +1m25.7s

5. Rullo/Marquet, Hyundai, +2m36.1s

6. Maguire/Searcy, Skoda, +2m38.3s

7. Taylor/Sarandis, Subaru, +2m57.7s

8. Luff/Luff, Toyota, +3m12.9s

9. Pedder/Macneall, Skoda, +4m55.1s

10. Wiedman/Reid, Subaru, +5m10.2s