Rullos enjoy speedy Sunday in Queensland

IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing enjoyed a standout Sunday at the Accent Benchtops Rally Queensland, with a stage win for Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney among the highlights.

Alex and Steve bounced back on Sunday after their issues on Saturday, the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 on song throughout an exciting day in the forests near Gympie as part of the third round of the Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC).

On the event’s 11th stage, Alex and Steve put in an impressively quick time – fastest of all runners to bank another ARC stage win as their continuous improvement rolls on.

The pair also narrowly missed out on their first ever Galvaniize Insurance Power Stage win by just one second, falling short by the narrowest of margins to the highly credentialled heat two winners in Harry Bates and Coral Taylor.

Teammates Peter Rullo and Jimmy Marquet also enjoyed a solid day of their own, highlighted by a fifth-place finish on the Power Stage and some all-important bonus Championship points which has helped propel them up the order.

Peter and James finished the day in eighth – and equal seventh for the round. Alex and Steve finished the round in 10th after their issues on Saturday meant they were unable to score as many points as they’d hoped in heat one.

Alex was understandably pleased with a stronger Sunday, but clearly determined for even better results in the rounds ahead.

“We’re on the up and it’s everything, the car the team, we’re all getting familiar with what we’re doing here,” Alex said.

“It’s getting better, but we know there’s still more in the car.

“We need to go back and do some testing and come back even stronger, but the pace is getting good.”

Peter was also bullish about the team’s prospects, with some impressive results building across both cars.

“I think the whole team has stepped up. Thanks to all the co-drivers, Jimmy, Steve and of course Alex, it’s been a great weekend,” Peter said.

Over the last two or three years, the ARC has gone to the next level. We’re keen to keep being part of that.”

Alex and Steve sit fourth on the Championship standings on 149 points, while Peter and James have also moved up the standings to sit sixth on 118. Harry Bates and Coral Taylor lead the way on 207 points.

Attention will now turn to the next round of the ARC, the Middle of Everywhere Gippsland Rally on 9-11 August.

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION

Rally Queensland, Heat 2

1. Bates/Taylor, Toyota

2. Pedder/Macneall, Skoda, +14.7s

3. E.Maguire/Brakey, Skoda, +54.7s

4. Rullo/Glenney, Hyundai, +1m03.2s

5. S.Maguire/Searcy, Skoda, +1m53.3s

6. Luff/Luff, Toyota, +2m01.5s

7. Hoy/Bennett, Mitsubishi, +2m03.6s

8. Rullo/Marquet, Hyundai, +2.24.6s