Eager Rullos ready for final ARC event

IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing is ready for a big finale to their season as Buckby Motors Rally Tasmania takes place this weekend.

The rally concludes the Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) and will be a quick shift of focus for the team.

Both the team’s drivers, Alex and Peter Rullo, have spent extensive time behind the wheel at the Adelaide Rally and the Bunbury Sprint recently; however, that action has been on tarmac.

Their focus will shift quickly to gravel to finish their so-far successful national championship campaign.

After winning the Adelaide Rally a fortnight ago, Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney are confident of a strong result on roads new to all competitors.

“We've got nothing to lose championship-wise, so I think we're going to go all out,” Rullo explained of his approach for this weekend.

“We've got a new engine. We've made some good setup improvements with the diff again. That has been a big step, so we're looking to capitalise on both of those gains.

“The final West Australian state round was really strong for us. At that event, I thought I didn't drive as well, but the speed was still there, so I think the car is really good at the moment.”

That confidence leaves them ready to attack for their goal of a podium place.

Rullo knows that the car and team have made gains, and with a big battle forecasted around him near the top of the timesheets, expect there to be some attrition on the endurance-style event.

“I think everyone's going to be pushing hard, so there might be some carnage. I'm hoping our pace can step up and be up to the level of Harry (Bates) and Scott (Pedder), who are the class of the field.

“That's been the aim all year, but I know we've definitely got some quantifiable gains now.”

Not since March last year has the ARC been to Tasmania, and the long wait also coincides with a shift of venue.

Formerly based out of Launceston, the event has moved two hours to the north-west to be based out of Burnie.

It’s not the first time the town has hosted a round of the ARC, with the most recent being in 2010 when the rally was run on tarmac.

A level playing field between top crews means it’s arguably the team's best chance for a strong result this season, and adding to their two podium placings from the opening five rounds would be a success.

For Peter Rullo and James Marquet, they’ll be aiming to better their performances from the season so far and leap to sixth overall in the championship standings – a scenario that’s not out of the question.

Just 34 points behind sixth, a consistent run through the long Tasmanian rally will give them a great chance to make it two IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing cars in the top six.

Buckby Motors Rally Tasmania begins on Friday night with a Rally Show on the water's edge in Burnie, before 16 stages make up the rally proper.

Spectators are in for a treat at this event with a dedicated Rally Village to see the action on both days, while a short and exciting Super Special Stage will run adjacent to the service park in the heart of Burnie.

Thousands of spectators are expected to witness the action across the rally’s three days, where 50 crews have travelled from all around the country.