Great start ends in Heat 1 disappointment in WA

IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing will reset for Sunday’s stages at the Forest Rally after a difficult end to the opening day’s action.

Rain in the lead-up to competition made for mixed weather conditions near Busselton, and it was a promising start for both cars who were each clearly within the top 10 of the Australian Rally Championship (ARC) field.

The Hyundai i20 N Rally2 of Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney were fast during the morning, and at midday service, were comfortable in fourth place overall.

“On the dry stages we had a good feeling,” Alex said.

“Hayden (Paddon) helped a lot with the setup and the car was feeling good. We were just building into it, so there’s still a bit more speed to come.”

Thanks to that setup progress on the car, Alex was fighting with the leading drivers in the ARC field and feeling at one with the car.

Meanwhile, the second IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing entry, Peter Rullo and Ben Searcy, also ticked plenty of boxes during day one.

Consistently swapping times with those around them, their pace increased as the conditions dried out, and it showed in their overall position.

Seventh and eighth fastest stage times saw them performing well above their seed and into a strong overall placing by the later parts of the day.

It wasn’t to be, though, with a mechanical failure dropping them out of the rally.

“The alternator bracket broke and we ended up breaking the belt that connects the alternator and the power steering. We ran out of power and the car stopped in the last stage,” Peter said of his retirement.

“I’m looking forward to giving it another crack tomorrow.”

The afternoon loop of stages was also unkind to team leaders, Alex and Steve.

Chasing Sweden’s Tom Kristensson for fourth overall, they made a minor error, resulting in damage to the front right of the Hyundai.

They cut a right-hand corner too sharply, taking them out of contention for the fight at the front.

Unable to continue after the incident, Rullo and Glenney returned to the Nannup service park where the Race Torque team is working to get the car back out for Sunday’s action.

“I hit a rock in the second last stage, but we’ll fix it up and go again,” Alex said.

“If the stages stay dry tomorrow, then I think we’ll give it a red hot crack. The boys are just fixing the car up at the moment.”

Rules of 'Sprint' events in the ARC mean that crews begin afresh on Sunday with equal opportunity for all to be near the front.

Therefore, the goal will be for more top stage times and a solid finish to the team’s home rally.

The action begins with stage seven at 9:12am AWST.