Rullos experience rallying’s highs and lows in Tasmania

IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing’s Alex and Peter Rullo have concluded their 2024 Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC) campaign, ending the team’s second full season in the championship.

Alex Rullo and co-driver Steve Glenney were in scintillating form throughout the brand-new Buckby Motors Rally Tasmania, with the duo knocking on the door of the last two ARC Champions – Harry and Lewis Bates – for much of the rally.

In the early stages on Sunday, they continued to do battle with Tasmanian Eddie Maguire for the final spot on the podium, before stunning the field by finishing just 1.3 seconds off the pace on the marathon 43-kilometre Mawbanna stage.

Alex and Steve were on course for a well-deserved podium, sitting almost a full minute ahead of Maguire after the penultimate stage of the rally. 

However, the final stage of the rally was one to forget for the squad.

Alex encountered turbo boost issues off the start line and lost almost six minutes during the stage, eventually dropping to eighth overall for the rally.

“The weekend’s been awesome up until that last stage,” Alex said.

“We did a boost hose right on the start line. As soon as I started, the car bogged down and we had no turbo boost throughout the whole stage.

“It was the worst stage to have it in, being the longest one of the year, so we lost a bunch of time.

“It was a bit of a sour end to the year and the weekend, but our car pace was good which is promising for next year.

“To be within two seconds of the two Toyotas on the longest and one of the trickiest stages of the year is really promising for us. We’re definitely going to come out fighting next year and bigger and better.”

The duo were sitting comfortably in ninth overall, when their car rolled and collided with a tree. 

The stage was stopped to ensure medical and rescue crews could enter the stage to attend to Peter and James’ Hyundai.

James was uninjured during the impact, but significant damage on the drivers’ side of the car saw Peter Rullo taken to hospital to repair a broken wrist.

The team is thankful for the modern design and safety features aboard a modern Rally2 car that ensured minimal injuries to either occupant.

“It was certainly one of the biggest crashes in my career, but apart from some relatively minor injuries I’m doing alright,” Peter said.

“The car certainly did what it was meant to do in protecting James and I. I'm grateful for the safety features aboard the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car and I also want to thank the drivers who stopped on the stage to help, and the officials and rescue crews who attended to us."

Despite the crash, he reflects on the season fondly.

“There’s plenty to look back on and smile about from this season. From starting our year in the snow in Sweden for the WRC to finishing first and second in the West Australian Rally Championship and enjoying all of the sights and scenery in the ARC.

“We’re certainly itching to get back and keep building our team into 2025.”

From finishing 12th in 2023, Alex Rullo was one of the most improved drivers of the series to finish an impressive fifth outright in the championship standings, while Peter Rullo helped keep both cars within the top 10, finishing ninth.