Lots to build on after successful Sunday

IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing drivers Peter and Alex Rullo will move to round three of the EROAD Australian Rally Championship (ARC) buoyed by growing confidence.

The father-and-son teammates finished in the top seven of Heat 2 at the weekend’s Forest Rally in their home state, Western Australia.

A troublesome Saturday was well and truly put behind them when they started Sunday’s action on the front foot.

Overnight rain on the rally’s pine forest roads meant treacherous conditions for all, and the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 drivers were amongst the quickest in the field.

As conditions dried out, their performances lifted, thanks to the strengths of the car, cementing them yet again as some of the fastest crews in the country.

Alex’s strong Heat 2 form, that has netted him the nickname ‘Mr. Sunday’ continued for fifth, while Peter’s seventh place was just as impressive in the wet conditions.

It wasn’t without its challenges, though, as Alex and co-driver Steve Glenney looked to get back on the pace of those on the podium.

“It was a big weekend of learning,” Alex said. “I feel like we've changed so many things with the car, but hopefully we can use this setup that we ended up with for the rest of the year and use that as a base.

“It was a very dynamic weekend, let's say. We did a lot of readjusting, both myself and the car.”

Also a part of the Sunday challenge for Alex and Steve was a pack of emus that appeared in front of them on stage, not once, but twice.

“I had to slow right down for the emus the first time, and the second time it was the Power Stage, so I had no choice but to just split between two of them and went for it.

“Luckily we didn't hit any of them, but it just added to the day of dynamic things.

“It was a good weekend overall. Obviously the optimal results weren't there, but there were a couple of good stage times, and I think we can be happy with that.” 

Peter’s run to seventh was more hotly contested, with rivals around him squabbling for position.

The gaps remained close and at the Heat’s conclusion, he and Ben Searcy held seventh place by less than two seconds.

“I love coming down here to the Forest Rally around Nannup. It’s really good having an ARC event in our own home state,” Peter Rullo shared at the end of the event.

“I’m really happy with the way it ended up on Sunday and I’m looking forward to Queensland.”

Rally Queensland is the next round of the EROAD Australian Rally Championship, where the narrow Sunshine Coast roads will reward commitment and precision.

Both IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing drivers have performed well at the event in the past and will be looking to do the same again from July 4-6.

HEAT 2 RESULTS | FOREST RALLY

1. Paddon/Kennard, Hyundai, 46m47,7s

2. Bates/Taylor, Toyota, +5.4s

3. Kristensson/Johansson, Skoda, +6.7s

4. Bates/McLoughlin, Toyota, +54.2s

5. Rullo/Glenney, Hyundai, +1m52.0s

6. Hoy/Kelly, Mitsubishi, +4m22.7s

7. Rullo/Searcy, Hyundai, +4m41.8s

8. Dowel/Garrad, Toyota, +4m43.6s